GILIGT, Oct 23: At least 21 ad-hoc doctors, working with the Northern Areas Health Project (NAHP), serving in the Northern Areas since 1998, have been sacked with immediate effect,informed sources told Dawn on Wednesday. The sources said these doctors were appointed mainly in the remote rural areas at the basic health units and dispensaries to provide basic health facilities to the people of these areas.

With their sacking, these health units might be closed.

The sources added that more than 17 doctors were laid off from the NAHP, last year, who were later adjusted against the vacant posts till their recruitment through Federal Public Service Commission.

A source in the NAHP said the sacked doctors’ tenure of contract with the NAHP was over, and due to lack of funds they had been sacked.