PMA President Urges Punjab Chief Secretary to Address Delays in Health Department

By Farzana Chaudhry, Lahore, Pakistan
Lahore: Professor Shahid Malik, President of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore, has appealed to the Chief Secretary Punjab to issue clear directives to the Secretaries of the Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department and the Health & Population Department, ensuring their regular presence in offices and prompt action on pending files.
Professor Malik highlighted that in the Health Department, individual files often remain pending for 15 to 20 days without any decision. Many files are being unjustifiably delayed by the secretaries, causing severe difficulties and mental stress for thousands of doctors and paramedical staff.
He further stated that the frequent absence of secretaries from their offices has significantly contributed to unresolved issues concerning staff leave, service matters, and other critical concerns affecting doctors. This administrative negligence, according to Professor Malik, has effectively paralyzed the department’s functioning.
The Pakistan Medical Association has expressed deep concern over the situation and urged the Chief Secretary Punjab to take immediate notice, demand explanations from the concerned secretaries, and remove obstacles hampering public and medical affairs.