THATTA, July 16: Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister for Health Malik Faisal Gabol has promised to fill soon vacant posts of specialist doctors in Sindh hospitals running short of them.

During a visit to the Civil Hospital, Makli, here on Friday on the concluding day of the latest round of anti-polio campaign, he was told that out of 70 posts of specialist doctors in the district, 58 were lying vacant.

The adviser said that he had already called for a report on the issue and promised that he would soon provide specialist doctors to those hospitals across Sindh, which were running short of them.

He directed the medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital, Syed Las Mir Shah, to furnish a report on the need of life saving drugs and instruments required for emergency, besides ordering him to improve lighting and sanitation in the hospital.

The adviser also promised that the Thatta district health department would receive an air-conditioned and fully equipped ambulance within a week. When told that an outdated dialysis machine was lying idle in the Civil Hospital, Sindh Health Secretary Ashiq Hussain Memon, who accompanied Mr Gabol, replied that his department had already prepared a list of hospitals which would be provided dialysis machines and facilities within short span of time.

Mr Memon said he was aware that the health department had run short of ambulances and added that he would soon take steps to meet the shortage. Later talking to journalists, the adviser said that the health department, with the help of the revenue and other departments concerned, was preparing a strategy to cope with any catastrophe or emergency in the coastal districts Thatta and Badin.

He recalled that both the coastal districts had suffered a lot due to a cyclone, the Surjani breach and last year's torrential rains. Now keeping in view the monsoon season ahead, he said, it had become vital to chalk out advance strategies to tackle outbreak of epidemics and provide maximum relief to the area people in case of any emergency.

For the purpose, Mr Gabol said that he would re-visit Thatta next week and hold a meeting with departments concerned. Referring to the working of healthcare facilities run by the government, the adviser said that professional dedication and fair attitude of doctors with patients provided immediate relief to the ailing people.

Later, Mr Gabol, accompanied by Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Heer Sohu and Thatta zonal chief Azam Bhai, left for Karachi.