LANDI KOTAL, Jan 16: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas health director has suspended six employees of the office of the Khyber Agency surgeon and transferred two dispensers of the Agency Headquarters Hospital here for negligence.

During a surprise visit to the hospital on Friday, the director, Dr Mohammad Ali Chohan, took the attendance register into his custody and ordered an inquiry against five doctors who were absent from duty.

Dr Chohan took notice of negligence by two dispensers and ordered their immediate transfer. The six officials suspended were not present at their office during their duty timings.

The director ordered resumption of institution-based private practice by doctors at the AHQ hospital and instructed the staff to provide medical service to patients in the evening as well. A number of patients complained to the director about the discontinuation of the system at the hospital.