LAHORE, March 25: In compliance with the Punjab ombudsman orders, health department has terminated the contract-based services of three male doctors, appointing as many woman medical officers in accordance with the merit list.

According to a press release, the action was taken on a complaint by Dr Humera Sultana Niazi.

In his decision, Ombudsman Abdur Rashid Khan observed that perusal of the relevant advertisement showed that applications were invited from male/female doctors without specification of number of posts on the basis of gender.

Recommendations were also accordingly made by the Selection Board.

The ombudsman held the respondent agency had violated the merit, as laid down in the waiting list, while making appointments to eight posts, against which the original selectees had not joined duty, which fell within the ambit of “maladministration”.

Punjab Health secretary has informed Mohtasib Secretariat that the contract appointments of male medical officers have been terminated and instead three woman MOs have been appointed on the basis of the merit list.-—APP