LAHORE, June 7: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced on Wednesday regularisation of the teaching-cadre doctors working on a contract and said house surgeons and physicians would be given BS-17 salary and fringe benefits.

He was speaking to a Pakistan Medical Association delegation, led by its president Prof Dr Imtiaz Rasool. The other delegates included Dr Tanvir Anwar, Dr Azimuddin Zahid, Dr Naila Tariq and Dr Muhammad Nazir. Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed and secretary Javed Malik were also present.

The chief minister said the government would also make doctors improve their attitude towards patients, and their performance. He said 75 per cent seats of senior registrars would be filled through promotions of medical officers and the remaining 25 per cent through the public service commission.

The government was providing all facilities to doctors so that the health care system could be improved. He said the medical officers working in basic health units were being given Rs25,000 a month. They were also being given soft loans for the purchase of motorcycles.

He said such doctors would be given annual increments on the basis of their performance. They would also be given preference in the postgraduate course.

The doctors serving in the BHUs for two years would be given 25 extra marks for their regularisation through the PPSC. Half of the basic sciences’ doctors would be placed in the next higher grade through promotions and the rest through the public service commission.

Pervaiz Elahi said provision of missing facilities in rural and basic health centres through their upgradation was being ensured. The doctors working in these units were being given attractive salaries under a package, he said.

Besides, they had been given transport and their schoolgoing children pick and drop facility. They had also been allowed to do private practice in the evening. Now it was their duty to politely deal with their patients and pay full attention to their treatment.

Dr Tahir Javed said the health sector in Punjab was being strengthened in the light of the chief minister’s vision so that the people could be given better health facilities.

Dr Imtiaz Rasool said by announcing regularisation of the contract-based doctors, an old demand of the community had been met. Now they would perform their duty more diligently, he said.