LARKANA: Dr Ruth Pfau Leprosy Centre is being run by a general cadre doctor in sheer violation of apex court orders. A specialist doctors is supposed to be appoint at the centre where over 200 poor patients suffering from various dermatological diseases turn up at the OPD to get treatment. Daily Times has learnt that Dr Nuzhat Seema Bhatti was directed by Dr Muhammad Akhalq Khan, Hyderabad health services director general, to continue looking after the centre when Savio Pereira, director (HR), Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre, Karachi, wrote on January 15, 2018, to the Sindh health secretary that Dr Nuzhat Seema Bhatti, had been working at the Leprosy Centre since 1998. But on January26, the Health Services director general bypassed all rules and regulations, including court orders, and allowed junior general cadre Dr Farooq Ahmed Shaikh, senior medical officer (BPS-18), to look after the charge of the centre. Previously, Dr Farooq was working as DDO (HRD) at District Health Office, Larkana. Earlier, Dr Farooq Rahman Soomro was running the centre who had retired. Health Department claims that it has established merit in the province but the ground realities speak otherwise. Published in Daily Times, April 21st 2018.