LAHORE: The Punjab government has failed to search and appoint competent health managers for its districts level administrative posts, created with an aim to rectify loopholes in primary and secondary healthcare system across the province. After failing in first attempt, Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has again made competition exams compulsory for the appointment of executive district officers, medical superintendent of District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs) and Tehsil Headquarter Hospitals (THQs). The department has taken the services of National Testing Service (NTS) in this regard. A well-placed source in P&SHC Department told Daily Times that all the incumbent health EDOs, district officers, MS for DHQs and THQs as well as deputy district officers would be transferred to other available posts equivalent to their grades while new aspirant candidates, after passing NTS, would be appointed in their places. Source said that in May 2016, for the first time in the history of Punjab, P&SHC had advertised all posts for DHQs and THQs through NTS but failed to get desired results. The department has again taken the services of NTS and for this purpose made it compulsory for all interested candidates to appear in the test. Candidates having at least 50% marks shall be deemed eligible for further consideration in selection process. In case of selection, private practice shall not be allowed to all the newly appointed health managers. Furthermore, no new appointment would be made through provincial search committee. Source said that the department intended to establish a pool of eligible personnel from amongst existing regular employees of the P&SHC Department/ Specialised Healthcare and Medial Education Department through a fair, transparent, competitive and merit based process. These administrative officers shall draw their regular salary as per admissible pay scale of government policy, in addition performance linked special incentive shall also be as Rs 80,000 for BS20, Rs 60,000 for BS19, Rs 50,000 for BS18 and Rs 40,000 for BS17. According to eligibility criteria, a candidate having MBBS with Master’s degree in health administration or public health or any other degree in medical sciences or management/ administration/ accounts/ commerce with must have at least 10 years relevant experience can apply for the post of EDO (Health) and MS DHQs. Sources further said that for the post of district officer (Health), a candidate must have MBBS with Master’s degree in health administration or public health or any other degree in medical sciences or management/ administration/ accounts/ commerce besides at least five years relevant experience.