Thousands of doctors of Sindh government serving in grades 17 to 20 have been awaiting promotions for the last 17 years. They observed hunger strike from February 06 to 16 at the Civil Hospital Karachi under the aegis of the Sindh Doctors Welfare Association following which the governor and the health minister assured them of resolving their problems within 10 days.

However, no progress was made in this regard despite the assurances. On Saturday last, a delegation of doctors met provincial Health Secretary Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi to press for expediting the matter.

According to Zaidi, the department will call a meeting of the representatives of the protesting doctors on February 28 (Tuesday) to discuss the promotion issue. Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Sindh Doctors Welfare Association Dr Nisar Ali Shah said that around 11,000 doctors of the province had been awaiting promotion to higher grades for the last 17 years. He said that in case the issue was not resolved at the February 28 meeting, they would be compelled to move the court the same day.

Dr Nisar mentioned that a petition regarding time-scale had already been filed in the Sindh High Court’s Sukkur Bench. General Secretary Pakistan Medical Association (Karachi Chapter) Dr Qazi Muhammad Wasiq and General Secretary Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (Karachi) Dr Abdul Malik have also supported the demands of the doctors and urged the government to grant promotions and announce service structure immediately.

It may be mentioned here that few months back some 300 doctors were approved for promotion to higher grades through the departmental promotion committee as per their seniority, but their promotions have still not been notified.