KARACHI, Aug 8: The city government will soon be appointing 500 health employees, including about 150 doctors, on contract basis to make its 20 medical health care units fully functional in different parts of the city.

A source in the health department of the city government said that about 271 health care units, including dispensaries, basic health units and mother and child care centers, 61 were either under utilised or non-functional due to shortage of doctors, paramedics, medicines, equipment and furniture in different towns of the city.

However, it is likely that 20 such centers will be made functional and fully equipped in a maximum three months time as the authorities have approved the schedule of new expenditures of those units. Some of the doctors detailed there would also be sent back to their original place of postings, added the source, saying that the city government which will be responsible for the salary component of the new staff has decided to engage doctors on contract basis for six to 12 months.

It was further learnt that doctors and other staff would be appointed against the facility specified and non transferable posts. The city government will also provide the units in question with medicines, equipment and furniture on priority basis so that patients could be extended treatment in there respective areas.

The towns which would be benefited with the revamping of these units included, Jamshed, Gadap, Malir, Bin Qasim, Landhi, Keamari, North Karachi, Baba Bhit Island, said the source.