KARACHI, June 16: Describing the provisions for the health sector in the federal budget as insufficient, the Pakistan Medical Association’s Sindh chapter has demanded 100 per cent increase in the health budget, a PMA press statement issued here on Sunday said.
The statement said that a PMA meeting was held which reviewed the federal health budget.
The participants in the meeting said that the federal health budget was four times less than what was provided by developing countries in the region.
The PMA urged the government to allocate budget provisions to implement a 2011 order of the Sindh High Court regarding timescale financial incentives.
It also demanded that the three-tier and four-tier formula for promotion of doctors be implemented.
It also proposed creation of 5,000 more posts of BPS-17 medical officers to meet the 30 per cent shortage of doctors.
The PMA also called for prioritising primary health care in the provincial health budget.
It demanded that a raise be made in the health professional allowance equal to basic health pay as had been implemented in the federal government.
The PMA also called for an substantial increase in salaries of postgraduate doctors and house officers.
Besides, the participants in the meeting said that doctors in government service should also be given plots on retirement as had been given to officers in military and other central superior services.