PESHAWAR, May 26: The doctors working on ad hoc basis in different teaching hospitals and periphery units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata have demanded of the government to regularise their services without any further delay.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Dr Salman, the president of the action committee of ad hoc doctors, said that government had appointed more than 450 doctors on ad hoc basis in different parts of the province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

He said that it was a commendable act of the government. However, he said, health department had always failed to fill all the vacant posts of medical staff in the far-flung districts despite availability of infrastructure to deliver medical services through qualified doctors.

Dr Salman said that after appointment of doctors on ad hoc basis, the deficiency had been addressed at different medical facilities of remote areas of the province and Fata. The health facilities were strengthened after provision of required staff in Chitral, Tank, Lakki Marwat and adjacent areas, he added.

Accompanied by Dr Zarin and other colleagues, he said that more than 2,000 posts of doctors were lying vacant while need for medical staff at different teaching hospitals and periphery units didn’t permit to decrease the existing strength.

If government, he said, would take such step, then the qualified doctors and poor people would be directly affected.

Dr Salman also expressed concern over the appointment of doctors through public service commission examination, saying they were worried about their future.

He said that ad hoc doctors had extended their services in all the remote areas with the conditions that they would not take part in academic activities and trainings and would not request of their transfer.

He demanded of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Minister for Health Syed Zahir Ali Shah to regularise their services and provide them all facilities.