LAHORE, Dec 5: Fifteen new cases of dengue fever were reported in different public hospitals on Friday.

According to a health department spokesman, these patients were admitted to Mayo, Sir Ganga Ram and Jinnah hospitals. He said as many as 23 dengue fever patients were now under treatment in Lahore while virus had been traced in 27 patients in outdoor of the Institute of Public Health laboratory.

A total of 1,382 people have so far been affected by the virus in the province, 1,297 in Lahore alone. No dengue fever patient is under treatment in any other city.

YOUNG DOCTORS: A comprehensive policy based on career opportunities for young doctors has been formulated, which will be announced by the chief minister.

A health department spokesman said on Friday the finance department would issue the notification of 50 per cent increase in the monthly stipend of the house officers and post-graduate trainee doctors after completing procedural requirements.

He said admission to MBBS was given in accordance with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council rules and capacity of medical colleges and their attached hospitals, therefore, the basic right on house job and PG trainee seats in any public hospital was of the students who got admission on open merit in that medical college.

He said a meeting of principals of medical colleges in the province would be convened to accommodate MBBS graduates of private medical colleges or those who had graduated from abroad on the seats which often remained vacant due to some reasons in the government colleges. A decision in this regard would be taken within a week.