THE Sindh health department has no clear policy for promotion of medical officers of BPS-17 who are appointed through the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) or by ad hoc appointment.

At present, more than 1,500 medical officers, selected by the SPSC 15 years back in Grade 17, are waiting for their promotion. There is no law or clear policy of the health department to consider this genuine matter of doctors who are rendering services to the people of Sindh.

According to the law, seven years of regular and punctual service is required for an employee working in Grade 17 to reach Grade 18. It is unfortunate that medical officers appointed in 1993 are still not considered for promotion to Grade 18.

The basic requirement, as mentioned earlier, is regularity and completion of annual confidential report (ACR). These basic formalities are completed in the majority of cases, but despite this there is no plan or policy from of health department.

Through these columns we, the affected medical officers of SPSC-1993 batch request the governor of Sindh, the chief minister, the chief secretary, the secretary of the health department and also the minister of health to kindly solve this important and legal issue of promotion, as many of them are disappointed due to this injustice while several others are nearing their retirement age.

PRO BONO PUBLICO
Thatta