A delegation of GCDA calls on secretary health Punjab

Lahore:  Secretary Health Punjab Dr. Ijaz Munir has said that the promotion of doctors in next grades and resolving their service problems on priority basis was also the part of health sector reforms programme so that doctors community could perform their professional duties with more dedication and satisfaction. He said that the process of promotions of doctors in next grades would be further accelerated.

He stated this while talking to a delegation of General Cadre Doctors’ Association which called on him at Civil Secretariat here today.

Headed by Dr. Masood Sheikh, the delegation included Dr. Asad Abbas Shah, Dr. Ijaz, Dr. Ashraf, Dr. Naeem, Dr. Shahid, Dr. Sher Afghan and other office-bearers.

Secretary Health informed the delegation that the process of promotions of the doctors in next grades and updating of seniority list is in progress and a large number of doctors would be promoted within a period of six months in the next grades.

On this occasion, Deputy Secretary Health (Establishment) Adnan Zafar informed that cases of promotion of doctors from 18 to grade 19 has already been sent and the date of holding PSB-II would be announced very soon.

Similarly, promotion case from 19 to 20 is also being prepared which would be sent to the government at the end of June. Secretary Health directed that the promotion cases of such doctors should be given priority who have been stuck up at their present grades for a long time. He further informed that 4-Tier service structure formula of General Cadre doctors have been sent to the Finance Department. He said that doctors representatives may be included in the team of Health Department to further accelerate the work of preparation of promotion cases of doctors.

Secretary Health assured that the process of promotion of GC doctors from grade 18, 19 and 20 would be completed during the current year. He said that seniority list of GC doctors would be updated and he is ready to meet the office-bearers of General Cadre Doctors Association every month to further expedite their promotion cases.

On the occasion, president GCDA Dr Masud Akhtar Sheikh said that the promotion of general cadre doctors as per formula approved in the revised service structure is the only way the senior doctors can be promoted to BS 20, 19 and 18, on a large scale. If the department keep promotion process in accordance with the old formula, it will not favor promotion of around 400 doctors in BS 20, 1500 doctors in BS 19, and 1500 doctors in BS 18, which is expected in revised formula.

Dr Masood sheikh pointed out that the promotion of the general cadre doctors is most important and despite revision of the formula, it has not been implemented. He added that the current seniority list contains names of doctors who have already retired, dies, promoted to senior grades, not returned from abroad or from long leave.

Dr sheikh pointed out that new four tier formula has already been approved by the chief minister for doctors of the general cadre 1.e 3: 19:36:42, that has created 320 post in BS 20, and results in the availability of 1500 vacancies in BS 19, and additional 1000, seat in BS 18.

Despite the approval of the above mentioned formula by the finance department, dated 21^st December 2012, the health department has not finalized the splashing  as per revised formula. As reflected in para 16 of the agreement of the Punjab government with doctors association, dated 7^th November 2012.

Dr Masood Sheikh suggested that to enhance the promotion process, the seniority list of BS 18, 19 and 20 may be revised after removing the names of those doctors who have retired from service, died, promoted to senior grades, not returned from broad, or from long leave, and also those who have already changed their cadre after transfer/ promotion as specialist and teaching cadre.

It has been around one year and 4 months, but the audit copy has not been authenticated by the finance department. The institution wise post, also called splashing, has to be finalized by health department. Unfortunately it has still not been finalized, and need the attention of the department for its authentication.

Dr Masood sheikh said that it has been very unfortunate that the department has promoted the MO to SR and specialist but the SMO/SWMO, and similarly APMO/ APWMO have not been given and opportunity form this window, and must be given chance to serve in these cadres as well. He added that the those doctors serving on the administrative post should also be  awarded qualification allowance of Rs 5000.