ISLAMABAD: In a unique arrangement for meeting shortage of specialized doctors in Gilgit Baltistan (GB), the Government of GB has signed an agreement with a top private hospital, Shifa International Hospital, for provision of services of 66 consultants of the hospital to the region initially for one year.
According to officials, under the agreement signed on Thursday, Shifa Hospital would provide services of the consultants in various hospitals of GB and in return, the regional government would pay the salaries/perks to the private hospital directly. “The medical consultants, while remaining employees of Shifa Hospital, would be serving in GB,” said Chief Secretary GB Muhyuddin Wani while talking to this scribe. “The medical specialists of Shifa Hospital are ready to serve in selected major hospitals of GB,” he said, adding that the regional government would not be bearing employment/service related issues with consultants as they would be employees of the private hospitals.
The agreement between GB and the private hospital was formally signed at Shifa International Hospital Islamabad. The agreement was reached after numerous consultative meetings and other formalities of the bidding process in order to ensure transparency and trust.
The agreement has been signed between Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Program (GBRSP)/Department of Health (DoH), Gilgit-Baltistan and m/s Shifa Foundation, Islamabad, Shifa International Hospitals Limited Islamabad, and eShifa (Siht Private Limited), Islamabad. This significant agreement signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker GBLA, Advocate Nazir Ahmad, Finance Minister GB, Mr. Javed Manwa, and women parliamentarians of Gilgit-Baltistan.
As per the agreement the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan will hire the services of 66 consultant doctors of various specialties as per the need identified by Health Department GB. Earlier detailed deliberations were made between the parties to make the agreement successful and build long-lasting mutual trust.
The agreement has initially been made for one year extendable further for another year. The agreement provides high incentives to the specialist doctors so that they may go to those distant areas where currently even the services of medical officers are not available let alone the services of specialist doctors.
According to officials, during the discussion it has been decided that apart from rotation of specialist doctors in Gilgit-Baltistan, special attention would also be given to impart training for paramedics, biomedical technicians, nursing staff, housekeeping etc of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Chief Secretary GB assured the senior management of Shifa International Hospital that direct monitoring would be made by himself to make this partnership a successful one and to ensure that best medical services be provided to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan at their door steps.
The political leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan present at the signing ceremony hoped that this connectivity over the period of time will grow stronger wherein the Govt of Gilgit-Baltistan would also think to avail the best facilities of Shifa International Hospital like Tele-ICU, Tele-Radiology, Tele-Pathology etc.
This agreement is aimed at augmenting the health sector of Gilgit-Baltistan in providing the best medical facilities to the poor people of remote areas as owing to lack of specialist doctors people had to travel to bigger cities to avail the services of specialist doctors for minor medical problems.
