KARACHI, April 7: Chief Secretary K. B. Rind has said that the government had great respect for doctors, teachers and other professionals who were rendering commendable services to humanity.

Speaking at a meeting of the academic council of Dow Medical College here on Monday, Mr Rind said that the provincial government recognized the role of doctors in health sector and fully realized their importance in the society.

Referring to the problems highlighted and requirements put forward by the Principal of DMC, Dr Elahi Bux Soomro, the chief secretary asked Health Secretary Ashiq H. Memon to prepare a feasibility report for consideration. Mr Soomro had sought incentives to the teachers of DMC in order to discourage the trend of their switching over to private colleges.

He also urged the CS to help provide a generator and airconditioner for the DMC and assistance in building a reading room in library. Mr Soomro requested him to reconsider the lengthy procedure of doctors’ leave abroad.

The chief secretary noted that every possible assistance was being provided to the civil servants. However, he said, those leaving abroad should ensure their timely return home.

He pointed out that the government had been solving problems of health sector’s employees on priority basis. In this regard he referred to achievements including regularization of more than 700 contract doctors. He said that cases of ad-hoc doctors were also being taken up.

Mr Rind asked the health secretary to schedule fortnightly meetings on regular basis with the management of DMC to sort out various issues and solve genuine problems.

He also held out the assurance that professors’ applications for residential telephones would be forwarded to the chief minister for due consideration. He also assured the meeting that the DMC students’ transport problem would also be resolved seeking CM’s approval for the allotment of more buses.

The CS stressed that doctors should make themselves available to the ailing community in remote and rural areas which would be their great service to the nation.

He cited the examples of China and Japan where doctors were more willing to serve in villages and backward areas than developed urban areas.

Dr Tipu Sultan, Dr Ghufrana Memon, Dr Iqbal Memon were among those who spoke on the occasion.—PPI/APP