PESHAWAR, Sept 7: The NWFP government is seriously considering allowing all fringe benefits and facilities to contract employees that are available to its regular employees, except pension and gratuity, to increase their efficiency, Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah said on Friday.

He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting at the Governor’s House in Peshawar. The meeting was also attended by Minister for Health Dr Mehr Taj Roughani and Secretary Health Muhammad Asif Khan, the chief executives of the Lady Reading Hospital, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar and   Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad.  

The Governor also reiterated the government’s resolve to streamline the healthcare system in the best interest of the people and stressed upon the need for making it a real success.

The Governor directed the concerned authorities to expedite creation  of the Health Regulatory Authority.

The Governor also advised the chief executives of the hospitals  to keep a close watch over the working conditions and quality control of their diagnostic facilities.

Referring to the sanctioning of long leaves, the Governor said any vacancy, which is likely to fall vacant for a longer period should be filled without delay.

Similarly, he said, long leaves should only be sanctioned in genuine cases.