LAHORE: The Punjab government has prepared a special incentive package for specialist doctors with a mandatory condition of performing evening rounds in tehsil headquarter hospitals (THQs) and district headquarter hospitals (DHQs) across the province. This new decision trigged a debate among medics, leading to frustration and confusion. An official, on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Times that the provincial government has enhanced salary packages for specialist doctors choosing to work in THQs and DHQs of far-flung districts. In order to encourage the specialist doctors to work in remote areas, the government was giving special incentives, starting from 20,000 to Rs 80,000 for DHQ hospitals and Rs 50,000 to Rs 120,000 per month for those working at THQ hospitals, he said, adding that the government wanted to improve health delivery system in the periphery-level healthcare facilities. He said the Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has issued instructions that all specialist doctors (pediatricians, gynecologists, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physicians and others where applicable) should perform evening rounds in their respective wards/units for at least one hour on daily basis. The instructions have made it compulsory for medical superintendents to hold a morbidity and mortality meeting at every fortnight and send a report to the department in this regard. The number of patients admitted in the wards/units, surgeries and deliveries against each specialist category must be submitted to the department after every fortnight. Now the P&SHC Department has written another letter to all executive district officers (health) with directions to circulate among all DHQs and THQs that the P&SHC secretary has approved payment of 40 percent of existing allowance, subject to the conduct of evening rounds in hospitals by the consultants ‘on call basis’, for the purpose of adjustment in duty roster as devised by the Punjab Information Technology Board. Consultants shall checkout from morning shift through biometric attendance system after 2pm and shall check in again after 5pm. A consultant shall remain in the hospital at least for one hour and shall conclude the round by checking out again. Their attendance and evening rounds timings shall be strictly monitored through biometric attendance system. Punjab Specialists Association General Secretary Dr Nazar Murshid said that the health department had promoted hundreds of doctors from medical officers to specialists and also posted them in THQ and DHQ hospitals to improve health facility at secondary level. Doctors appreciated the government for giving special package for specialist cadre, but criticised the condition of evening rounds. However, he said, under the current circumstances and facts, one consultant cannot provide medical service to a large community at THQ and DHQ hospitals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He urged the government to review its policy to increase more new posts for specialist cadre and withdraw these letters as soon as possible to end the frustration of doctors.