LAHORE, Jan 17: The Pakistan Medical Association has accused the Institute of Public Health (IPH) of charging Rs20,000 from doctors for different diplomas in violation of the provincial government and ombudsman’s orders.

PMA secretary-general Dr Azeemuddin Zahid said on Wednesday that the provincial government had directed the IPH in 2005 not to charge Rs20,000 from doctors seeking diploms admission there.

The ombudsman had directed the IPH to conduct audit of the amount it charged from the doctors for diplomas but it failed to comply with the orders.

The PMA urged the chief minister and health secretary to look into the matter and redress the doctors’ grievances.

UHS: The classes of M.Phil leading to PhD programme for session 2007 has started at the University of Health Sciences.

The programme is being run in disciplines like anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, morbid anatomy and histopathology, pharmacology, and physiology and cell biology.

UHS vice-chancellor Prof M.H. Mubashar advised the students to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their studies and generate new knowledge through extensive research. He said that trained faculty and modernly equipped laboratories were at their disposal 24 hours. UHS Registrar Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and senior faculty members were also present.