RECENTLY, I met a medical student who appeared in her final year MBBS examinations in December last. She appeared in the test for a house job at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). She passed it and was selected for a house job on the basis of merit.

However, she was kept on the waiting list because her results had yet to be announced by the LUMHS. She stated that two more students were also selected at the AKUH but they also suffered due to the same reason.

This has happened to many intelligent students of Pakistan as their universities declare results late while most of the institutions announce interviews earlier, as a consequence of which they are not given their due right.

The same student told me that if there would be further delay in the announcement of results, she and others would not be able to get a house job at the AKUH.

She said she was so keen to learn that she used to go to the Lila Shablani Centre of SIUT, Sukkur, to assist in surgery, attend out-patient clinics and served patients at indoor hospitals.

Lila Shablani of SIUT is a hospital which provides free urological services to patients at their doorstep. Thousands of patients from rural Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab are provided treatment for lithotripsy, endoscopic procedures, and open surgery. Then there is angio-axis surgery for patients on dialysis. Besides, dialysis facilities are provided to patients of end-stage renal failure.

I was astonished to learn that medical universities are always late in announcing results. Why were these bona fide students kept deprived of their right to work at institutions of their choice if they were eligible for it?

I request the vice chancellors of all universities to make arrangements for the quick announcement of results. Besides, I request the Sindh governer to look into the matter as soon as possible.

MURLI DHAR
Karachi