UPPER DIR: Biometric system was installed at the District Headquarters Hospital, Upper Dir, to ensure presence of doctors, paramedics and other staff members on duty.

The installation of biometric system was the first of its kind in Malakand division.

Patients and attendants welcomed the move saying the system has ensured presence of staff members, especially doctors, on duty.

Ashraf Khan of Dir town said for the first time, he had seen most staff members do the duty.

Another visitor, Sultan, said the initiative would improve patient care.

He suggested that employees be made to use thumb impression machines after every hour to ensure their presence on duty.

The visitor said many staff members, especially doctors, left the premises after using thumb impression machines at 8am and returned to use them again while leaving at 2pm. Another patient, Behram Khan, said the initiative was a huge success as it had increased staff attendance at the hospital up to 60 per cent.

“Doctors now come to OPD on time unlike the past when they used to show up quite late,” he said.

When contacted, medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Ghani Rehman said biometric attendance system had been installed on health minister Shahram Tarakai’s directives issued during a recent visit to the hospital.

He said the hospital had 402 sanctioned posts and 285 of them were occupied. The MS said all staff members, including him, used biometric system.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play