PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has warned doctors that their medical practice licences would be cancelled if found negligent in their duties.

Senior Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai said this while addressing the teaching staff, professors and heads of different departments of the Lady Reading hospital, Peshawar, here on Wednesday, according to a handout.

The minister said that there was no room for negligence for medical practitioners as a minor mistake or negligence on their part could result in the loss of a precious human life. He said that as minister in-charge his aim was to improve the overall healthcare service delivery system of government hospitals and ensure improved heath facilities to the public and better patient care in those hospitals.

Mr Tarakai asked the senior doctors to play their vital role in changing the existing healthcare delivery system in hospitals and join hands with the government in its efforts to ensure better health services to masses. He asked them to come up with their expert views and suggestions to remove the deficiencies in the existing system of hospitals.

He deplored that despite repeated instructions of the government, dress code was not followed by doctors in hospitals. He directed the heads of units and professors of departments to ensure adherence to the dress code, discipline and professional ethics by their subordinates in their respective departments.

“Doctors are the most respectable segment of the society and the government will not only give them respect but will also solve their problems and in return will expect only better performance from them,” said the senior minister.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2014