LAHORE, July 19: Each of the 37 basic health units of Lahore will finally have a doctor on a permanent basis from the next month. Earlier, some 18 doctors had been recruited under the Punjab Rural Support Programme who visited the city BHUs on a rotation basis. Unavailability of a doctor most of the time owing to rotation system has been causing inconvenience to a large number of residents of adjoining areas who have to take their patients to teaching hospitals in the city.

These BHUs are located in city suburbs like Wagah, Ali Razabad, Arrian, Attoki, Bhassen, Bhular, Bunghali, Chappa, Dograi Kalan, Ghawind, Hadyara, Halloki, Heir, Jehman, Jallo, Jia Bagga, Jodho Dheer, Kacha, Karol, Kohrian, Ladheki Uchay, Lakhoki, Leil, Lidher, Manawan, Maraka, Minhala, Narwar, Niaz Baig, Pandhana, Pandoki, Rangeelpur, Sarriach, Shahpur, Shahzada, Shahke Bhattian and Sultanke.

EDO (Health) Dr Inamul Haq told Dawn on Thursday the recruitment process of doctors for all city BHUs had been started and would be completed this month. He said the Punjab government had provided Rs20 million for the repair and maintenance of these BHUs and the National Logistic Cell was carrying out the job.

Though the PRSP officials had been monitoring the doctors working in the BHUs, he said, the City District Government of Lahore teams also were keeping an eye on the performance and punctuality of the staff, including doctors, posted there.