Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has sanctioned recruitments on all vacant posts at public hospitals across Punjab. She was chairing a meeting held at the Primary & Secondary Health Department on Tuesday. The meeting was told that Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has selected 6,891 candidates for the post of medical officers, of which 2,967 were women medical officers while 3,924 were medical officers. Select medical officers would be given posting through online preference system in the first week of next month. “A total of 10,763 posts of medical officers were vacant across the province however only a few doctors were working on ad hoc basis,” the meeting was briefed. Doctors selected from PPSC would replace ad hoc medical officers. The minister said in the next phase, further recruitment of 3,872 medical officers would be requisite to PPSC in October. “PPSC should be approached for early compilation of recruitment process in the health department,” she directed. She expressed her satisfaction over recruitment of 2,834 nurses through PPSC and directed that posting of such nurses be made on priority basis. “Requisition for recruitment of further 1,919 nurses would be sent to PPSC in October,” she pledged. The minister said that in all districts, recruitment of employees from BPS 01 to BPS 15 would be made through a testing service. “Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar nodded for recruitment in health department which is clear indication of Punjab government’s willingness to improve the public health sector,” she noted. “All District Health Authorities would be empowered to complete the recruitment process in their respective departments,” Dr Yasmin Rashid said, adding, “No compromise on merit and transparency in recruitment process.” Published in Daily Times, September 19th 2018.