CM Sindh orders requisition of another 2000 doctors

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday said the health emergency declared in the province has produced some congenial results but still there is lot to do to provide best free of cost health facilities to each and every citizen.

The chief minister presiding over a level meeting of health department also reviewed appointment of newly recruited doctors, procurement of medicine, Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and other donor projects.

CM Sindh said that the health services are improving in the province, and the operation of health facilities under PPP mode is another success story in Sindh.  “We have to further work hard to make health facilities better, improved and within the easy reach of each and every citizen,” he said.

Briefing the chief minister, Secretary Health Fazal Pechuho said that 5402 medical officers, including 2769 women medical officers have been issued offer letters, of them 5263 have accepted and 4376 have joined, which means that 887 doctors have not joined.

CM Sindh directed Minister Health Dr Sikandar Mandhro to send another requisition of another 2000 doctors to Sindh Public Service Commission (CPSC) so that remaining positions could be filled.

The chief minister was told that the procurement of medicines which is conducted through a centralised procurement and twelve technical committees and the tenders have been invited. Eighty-five percent of procurement is made through tenders, while fifteen percent is done locally keeping in view of specific requirements and needs of hospitals.

The hospitals and medical facilities are allowed to purchase medicines and related items up to 15 percent of their budget as per Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) rules.

CM Sindh directed the health department to contact pharmaceutical companies to get concessional rates as they are supplying to other provinces on lower rates than Sindh.

The chief minister was told that procurement of medicines and related items have been divided into twelve therapeutic groups this year. This includes antibiotic/antibacterial large volume preparation, oncology drugs, anesthetic drugs, hormone drugs, general medicines, cardiology drugs, psychotropic drugs, x-ray films, chemicals, contract medicines and vaccine/immunoglobulin/antiviral/hepatitis drugs.

The remaining three groups such as dermatology/ophthalmic drugs, surgical/disposable items and dental material would be completed within one week as necessary clarification from the bidders regarding registration of surgical and medical devices is received.

Talking about operational status of health facilities on PPP mode, the meeting was told that District Hospital Badin, 61 Rural Health Centers, six taluka headquarter hospitals are being run by Indus Hospital.

Furthermore, Aman Foundation is operating an ambulance dervice in Thatta and Sujawal. MERF is operating DHQ Thatta, eight RHCs and four THQs in Thatta and Sujawal districts. HANDS is operating three RHCs, two hospitals of 50-60 beds and 29 BHUs/dispensaries of Bin Qasim, Gadap and Ibrahim Hyderi. The total expenditures on these facilities were Rs97 million in 2017-18.

Under the donors programme, a Child Healthcare Institute at Sukkur is being established with the support of Korean loan worth Rs4.8 billion in which provincial government will contributes Rs162.792 million. The preparation of the design of the institute is at the final stage and contractor would be hired in the end of January 2018.