
Doctors unite against 'unjust' professional tax
Doctors' associations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have united to for a new joint platform called Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Doctors Council, warning the provincial government to immediately cease the harassment of medical practitioners.
A meeting of the council was held in Peshawar on Friday, chaired by Dr Abdul Majid. It was attended by Dr Sibghatullah, Dr Rizwan Rajput and Dr Fazal Manan of the Provincial Doctors Association.
Dr Asif Yousafzai from the Young Doctors Association, Professor Dr Musa Kaleem from the teaching cadre, Dr Haroon from the PMA, Dr Nisar from the Islamic Doctors Forum, Dr Zulfiqar from the Peoples Doctors Forum and Dr Daniyal from the PIMA attended the meeting.
The participants rejected what they called the "cruel" professional tax imposed on doctors by the provincial government. They demanded that the tax be restored to previous rates in line with other provinces.
To address the issue, a three-member committee was formed, which will hold talks with the government. The council also demanded immediate halt to actions targeting doctors.
The participants demanded withdrawal of letters issued by the Excise and Taxation department to the Finance Directors of MTIs and the Accountant General K-P regarding salary deductions from doctors.
"The salaries of all doctors, including house officers, trainee medical officers and medical officers, should be increased in proportion to inflation in the upcoming provincial budget. The heavy fines being imposed on doctors by the Healthcare Commission in the name of registration should be immediately abolished," demanded the meeting.
Along with this, the harassment of doctors in the name of drug sales license should be stopped and the court decision on the matter should be implemented.
Since 2017, no job advertisement has been published by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which they called a grave injustice.
The council demanded that jobs should be advertised immediately through the Public Service Commission. In MTI hospitals, instead of the policy board, the recruitment and promotion of doctors should be ensured according to the procedures and standards formulated by PMDC like the rest of the country, it added.
The obstacles in the appointment of civil servants to whom the MTI Board of Governors has given NOC should be removed and civil servants should also be given the opportunity to serve in MTIs.
Violations of merit and nepotism in appointments in MTI hospitals should be stopped immediately and the supremacy of merit in appointments should be ensured, said the council.
As per the announcement issued by the Chief Secretary regarding the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU), the promotion of doctors has been done on the basis of the performance of the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU). The doctors' community has serious reservations on this and it should be abolished and the promotion should be done on the basis of ACR.

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Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Doctors unite against 'unjust' professional tax
Doctors' associations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have united to for a new joint platform called Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Doctors Council, warning the provincial government to immediately cease the harassment of medical practitioners. A meeting of the council was held in Peshawar on Friday, chaired by Dr Abdul Majid. It was attended by Dr Sibghatullah, Dr Rizwan Rajput and Dr Fazal Manan of the Provincial Doctors Association. Dr Asif Yousafzai from the Young Doctors Association, Professor Dr Musa Kaleem from the teaching cadre, Dr Haroon from the PMA, Dr Nisar from the Islamic Doctors Forum, Dr Zulfiqar from the Peoples Doctors Forum and Dr Daniyal from the PIMA attended the meeting. The participants rejected what they called the "cruel" professional tax imposed on doctors by the provincial government. They demanded that the tax be restored to previous rates in line with other provinces. To address the issue, a three-member committee was formed, which will hold talks with the government. The council also demanded immediate halt to actions targeting doctors. The participants demanded withdrawal of letters issued by the Excise and Taxation department to the Finance Directors of MTIs and the Accountant General K-P regarding salary deductions from doctors. "The salaries of all doctors, including house officers, trainee medical officers and medical officers, should be increased in proportion to inflation in the upcoming provincial budget. The heavy fines being imposed on doctors by the Healthcare Commission in the name of registration should be immediately abolished," demanded the meeting. Along with this, the harassment of doctors in the name of drug sales license should be stopped and the court decision on the matter should be implemented. Since 2017, no job advertisement has been published by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which they called a grave injustice. The council demanded that jobs should be advertised immediately through the Public Service Commission. In MTI hospitals, instead of the policy board, the recruitment and promotion of doctors should be ensured according to the procedures and standards formulated by PMDC like the rest of the country, it added. The obstacles in the appointment of civil servants to whom the MTI Board of Governors has given NOC should be removed and civil servants should also be given the opportunity to serve in MTIs. Violations of merit and nepotism in appointments in MTI hospitals should be stopped immediately and the supremacy of merit in appointments should be ensured, said the council. As per the announcement issued by the Chief Secretary regarding the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU), the promotion of doctors has been done on the basis of the performance of the Independent Monitoring Unit (IMU). The doctors' community has serious reservations on this and it should be abolished and the promotion should be done on the basis of ACR.


Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Express Tribune
K-P launches doctors hiring drive
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Health Department has decided to recruit medical officers and specialist doctors on a contract basis to address the shortage of healthcare professionals across the province and to ensure the effective functioning of District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs). In the initial phase, 115 medical officers are being recruited for various hospitals. Additionally, 51 specialist consultants will be hired on contract to make different specialties operational in the DHQs. The Health Advisor has officially approved the recruitment initiative. He stated that this move will not only provide employment opportunities for doctors but also improve access to medical treatment for the public at hospitals in their respective areas. A key feature of this recruitment drive is the priority given to local medical staff, who will be appointed specifically for hospitals in their own areas. These doctors will not be transferred to any other hospital. Earlier in January, the K-P government had also decided to fill 248 long-vacant management cadre posts in the Health Department. Furthermore, the recruitment process for 600 specialist doctors through the Public Service Commission (PSC) is being expedited. The Provincial Doctors Association has welcomed the government's decision, noting that these posts had been vacant for several years without any action. Responding to the association's request, the Health Advisor has approved an age relaxation beyond the previously advertised limit of 32 years. A five-year age relaxation will now be granted, and the relevant rules will be amended accordingly. This means that doctors older than 32 years can also apply for the positions. The Health Advisor has directed the Deputy Secretary Health and the concerned Section Officer to immediately forward the 600 specialist doctor positions to the Public Service Commission to expedite the recruitment process. Additionally, it has been decided to collect data on all specialist doctors across the province to facilitate their transfer into the specialist cadre where needed. Health Advisor Ehtesham Khan Advocate has also resolved the long-standing issue related to the seniority list of Grade 17 general cadre doctors. He has issued instructions to prepare working papers for the promotion of doctors in all cadres and to submit them to the Public Service Commission.


Express Tribune
13-10-2024
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MTI board dismissals declared illegal
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has declared the dismissal of members of the boards of governors (BoGs) of various medical teaching institutions (MTIs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during the caretaker government and the appointment of new members as illegal. The court has issued a detailed 41-page verdict. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed Arshad Ali. According to the court ruling, the caretaker chief minister and government did not have the authority to remove BoG chairpersons or members without following legal procedures. The dismissed members were neither issued show-cause notices nor given an opportunity to be heard. Additionally, the court rejected petitions from individuals appointed as BoG chairpersons or members by the caretaker government, who were later removed by the current government on June 11. The ruling stated that the caretaker government does not have the authority to make policy decisions or long-term appointments. The petitioners included Dr. Umar Ayub, Chairman of the BoG of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, along with other members. The court also held that under the Election Act of 2017, the caretaker government cannot intervene in such matters and had exceeded its authority. According to the two-member bench's decision, certain petitioners should be allowed to complete their three-year term, which lasts from April 2024 to August 2025. Other petitioners who filed writ petitions included Sahibzada Saeed, Dr. Rubina Gilani (Hayatabad Medical Complex), Dr. Saeedullah Shah (MTI Khalifa Gul Nawaz Bannu), Muhammad Salahuddin Qasim, and members from Bacha Khan Medical Complex (Swabi), MTI Mardan, and Qazi Hussain Ahmad Complex (Nowshera).