PESHAWAR, Jan 16: NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan has urged teachers of medical colleges' to concentrate on character building of their students so that they serve the ailing humanity with missionary zeal and devotion.

Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of the Khyber Medical College Teachers' Association, the minister said: "You should behave in a way that you could become role models for your pupils.

There is no dearth of doctors, but what is needed is to bring up the young medical students so that they understand the norms and values and treat people with devotion."

He said the provincial government had done away with institution-based practice upon doctors' demand, who had pledged to attend the outpatient departments in the evening but they had not honoured their commitment.

"Doctors have lost their dignity in the society, which they must restore by launching some image-building projects, such as visiting the district headquarters hospitals once a week to examine patients there," he said.

He said the association's demands of accommodation facilities, allowance for the teachers of basic sciences departments, restoration of teachers' wards quota in admission and repair work in residential quarters would be met after the fulfilment of the necessary formalities.

KMC Teachers' Association President Dr Afzal Khan said the college, which recently celebrated its golden jubilee, had produced about 8,000 doctors. "Seven years back the government acknowledged the association's importance and said that its consultation would be sought on all important matters concerning the college but the teachers were being ignored," he said.

He expressed concern over the step-motherly attitude of the government towards the doctors' community and said the services of teachers were yet to be recognized.

Dr Khan demanded restoration of quota in admission to the college for teachers' wards, building of new residences, allowances for demonstrators and teachers, regularization of contract doctors, grant of university status to the college and allocation of funds for setting up of its women's campus.