LAHORE: Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Secretary Imran Sikander Baloch on Thursday removed 164 doctors for being regular absentees and misconduct.

The doctors have been dismissed under the PEEDA Act 2006 and a list has been published. The action has been taken after issuance of repeated warnings and show-cause notices for being absent from the duty. The P&SHD has also issued ads in national newspapers to put it in public notice.

The doctors belonged to Gujarat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh, Lahore, Chichawatni, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Narowal, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalnagar.

About the dismissal of 164 medical officers, Secretary Mr Baloch said regular absentees in government hospitals would not be tolerated at all. He said medical officers were bound to abide by the rules of PEEDA act and moral responsibility of being a medical specialist. He said action was taken after repeated warnings and in future strict action would be taken against such persons. He said there was no room for irresponsible officers and staff in the department.

COVID: As many as 360 people tested positive for coronavirus during the last 24 hours in the province.

Lahore has the highest number of 320 patients, followed by 14 in Rawalpindi, nine in Multan and four in Faisalabad. The positivity rate stood at two per cent.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2022