The Supreme Court has directed the federal government and four provincial governments to finalise respective health policies on private practice of government employed doctors by the end of July 2007.
A two-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan adjourned further hearing of human rights case till August.
It has been alleged that the doctors and the para medical staff of the government-run hospitals do not attend to the poor patients and give more time to their private practices. Deputy Attorney General Raja Mohammad Irsahad, Federal Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari and the four provincial health secretaries appeared before the court.
DAG informed the court that a high powered committee has completed framework of the policy and a summary has been sent to the Prime Minister for approval.
He said the government-employed doctors would be allowed private practice in the government hospitals after normal duty hours in the evening. Justice Bhagwandas observed that the court would like to know how the citizens would benefit from this scheme.