KARACHI, July 12: Around 2,100 applicants, who had emerged successful in the written tests for contractual jobs of medical officers, specialists and nurses held in the last days of the Arbab Ghulam Rahim government, may be offered regular jobs in the Sindh health department, provided they clear some oral examinations likely to be conducted by the Sindh Public Service Commission.

This was stated by Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed at a ceremony arranged by the Sindh Children Hospital, North Karachi, on Saturday to mark its fifth anniversary as well as the introduction of a few facilities like the intensive care unit, therapeutic feeding unit and a play area for children.

Speaking as chief guest, the minister informed the audience comprising elected representatives, doctors, paramedical staff and residents of the areas surrounding the hospital, that in view of the long prevailing vacancies in various government healthcare facilities both in the city and the interior of Sindh, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had in principle agreed to provide relief to hundreds of applicants, who had been waiting for appointment letters for several months after being declared to have qualified the written tests held last November and were issued the result letters as well during the tenure of the caretaker government.

The minister said that successful candidates of the written tests would now be required to appear before the Sindh Public Service Commission for viva voce and interviews for a final selection against hundreds of vacant posts of doctors, specialists and nurses. If the applicants in question qualified the SPSC interviews they could be offered regular jobs in the health department, he remarked.

Dr Ahmed also referred to the grievances of about 50 paramedical and technical staff who have been working at the North Karachi Children Hospital on a contractual basis for the last three years and said that he would try to get them regularised as well.

The minister said that a lot needed to be done sincerely in the health sector in the province and in this regard all those in the public and private sectors should come up with proposals and measures and extend support to each other to address the sufferings of the people.

He said that after seeing the spirit and demonstration of work by the doctors and paramedical staff and the support the hospital had received from the private sector, including the elected representatives, he was going to announce that a standard neonatal nursery care facility and operation theatre and improved OPD facilities would be available at the hospital by August 14.

The facility caters to the needs of the people of North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Federal B Area and Site areas.

He said that plans were also under way regarding the uplift of the hospital to the status of an institute. “More facilities would be introduced and more doctors would be appointed at the hospital in order to make it fit for affiliation with any university or institution of repute,” he added.

Dr Asif Aslam of the Unicef expressed his concern over the improper nutrition of newborns and children in the province and said that there was a need to check the increase in malnutrition among children to reduce their mortality rate.

MPA Abdul Moiz, Medical Superintendent Dr Asif Zaman and North Nazimabad Town Nazim Ahsanullah Khan also spoke.