NAWABSHAH, March 25: Secretary Health Dr. Naushad A. Shaikh, disclosed here on Sunday that the Health Department, under the Sindh Rural Support Programme, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a private party to run 500 Basic Health Units (BHUs) in ten district of Sindh including Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Sukkur, Dadu, Badin, Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Ghotki.

Speaking at an oath-taking ceremony of Medical Practitioners Association, Nawabshah, at a local restaurant he said that the department had released funds to the party and would monitor the functioning of the centres where doctors, staff and medicines would be available round the clock.

He further said that another 13 districts would also be handed over to public-private partnership in the second phase next year brushing aside the requests of certain EDOs not to include their districts in the programme on the ground that they would loose control over the BHUs.

He said that almost 50 per cent of basic health centres were non-functional throughout Sindh due to lack of doctors, staff and medicines.

The Health Secretary said the summary for affiliation of three medical colleges of Sindh with Liaqat University of Medical and Health Sciences was lying with the chief minister House since last two years.

He promised that he would try his best to affiliate Nawabshah, Chandka and Ghulam Mohammed Mahar medical colleges with LUMHS before he leaves the post.

He said that he knew that professors and doctors were unhappy and wanted to be part of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences for enjoying more benefits and incentives including promotions.

He said that the health department was trying best to resolve the problems linked with doctors, staff and patients. He said that recently 870 doctors were appointed through Sindh Public Service Commission and were posted in rural areas as per their domicile.

He informed that some 250 doctors were reposted in big cities and 72 were sent on deputations to different places for completion of their post graduation.

He further said that the fresh doctors were much better for basic health units instead of dispensers and quacks operating in the areas.

He informed that some 500 posts of specialists, 700 of medical officers, 260 of nurses would be filled soon through the SPSC after settlement of cases pending in the courts.

He said that 56 posts of professors and 108 of extra specialists were also lying vacant and would be filled soon.

Secretary Health said that the programme of appointment of doctors on contract basis was cancelled after he received tremendous pressure from different circles for appointments.

He said that after implementation of the new ordinance of registration of private hospitals and medical centres, the department would keep a check on the fees of admissions, tests and consultants.