PESHAWAR, Oct 27: The People's Doctors Forum (PDF) has expressed its reservations over the new policy introduced by the health department regarding the introduction of management cadre and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, PDF president Dr Qaiser Ali said that the senior doctors had been kept in dark while introducing the policy.

He was accompanied by Timergara Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Mohammad Wakeel, Chitral Hospital MS Dr Nazir, Charsadda Hospital MS Dr Zahir Shah and other senior doctors on the occasion.

Dr Qaiser alleged that the introduction of management cadre was meant to give preference to junior doctors over the seniors in promotions. He lamented that the senior doctors deputed in hospitals of far-flung areas of the province were not informed about the new policy.

According to the management cadre policy, he said, 25 of diploma holders and 10 from senior doctors would be promoted, which he said was injustice with those who spent over 20 years in the field.

He said that the government wanted to oblige the junior doctors and that was why they had been informed to undertake master in public health (MPH) and diploma in public health courses.

To a question, Dr Qaiser Ali said that the health minister knew that PDF was a sister organisation of the PPPP but the health minister ignored them altogether in this regard and took a unilateral decision.