SKARDU, Aug 2: The Northern Areas health department has been divided into two regions by de-linking Baltistan from Gilgit.

Deputy director health Dr Hassan Khan Amach has been made director of Baltistan region, while Dr Abdul Jalil would head the Gilgit region.

Earlier, Dr Hasan Khan Amach and Dr Abdul Jalil were working as deputy director and acting deputy secretary health, respectively.

The doctors of Gilgit-Baltistan have been working without promotion for the last several years because of the absence of a proper service structure.

Though the service structure of doctors in the region was approved in March 2007 by the Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas division with the directives to finalise seniority lists of each cadre, the former secretary, health, Northern Areas Brig Abdul Qadir did not take any action and delayed implementation of the service structure without any reason.

However, the health department has now started implementing the service structure of the doctors. This correspondent has learnt that under the new service structure, eight senior doctors would be promoted from grade 19 to grade 20.

Similarly, 13 doctors would be promoted from grade 18 to grade 19 and 20 would be given promotion from grade 17 to grade 18.

In addition, sources said, 45 paramedical staff would also be placed in scale 16 from scale 14. For this purpose, the local health department has forwarded a summery to chief executive Northern Areas for final approval.