Government of Pakistan Increased the Salaries of Doctors & Health Personnel in Federal Health institutions & related Organizations

In a historic move , President Asif Zardari promulgated the ‘Career Structure for Health Personnel Scheme Ordinance 2011,’ paving the way for the implementation of a highly-competitive salary structure and improved prospects for the promotion of health professionals serving in federal health institutions and related organisations across Pakistan. The ordinance, which regulates the terms and conditions of appointment and service of health personnel, will take effect from July 1, 2011, and has been promulgated on the advice of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, who had made a commitment on the floor of the House on April 12 this year with respect to the revision of pay scales and enforcement of the new career structure for health professionals (CSHP). Health Personnel Pay Scales (HPS 1-13) Scale HPS-1 HPS-2 HPS-3 HPS-4 HPS-5 HPS-6 HPS-7 Pay 7,140 - 14,496 7,551 - 17,868 8,025 - 20,175 8,246 - 23, 933 9,188 - 29,699 10,472 - 35,648 11,828 - 48, 396 Allownce 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 Scale HPS-8 HPS-9 HPS-10 HPS-11 HPS-12 HPS-13 Pay 22,559 - 72,248 29,561 - 89,585 45,812 - 109,022 54,356 - 111,147 60,308 - 136,619 66,356 - 156,147 Allownce * 7,000 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 45,000 * Health Allowance from Rs: 2000/- to Rs: 45,000/- The new structure, which replaces the Basic Pay Scales Scheme (BPS 1-22) with the Health Personnel Pay Scales (HPS 1-13), will lead to a quantum increase in the salaries of all health personnel including doctors (medical and dental), allied specialists, pharmacists, nurses, paramedics and support services personnel. With the coming into force of the ordinance, the salaries of post-graduate trainee doctors (medical and dental) have risen from Rs18000-20000 to Rs50000, and those of House Officers from Rs18,000 to Rs24,000. According to the ordinance, HPS-9 (equivalent to BPS-18) will be the entry level for all doctors and dentists; previously they used to be inducted in BPS-17. This also means that the minimum starting salary of a young doctor will now be Rs60,000. A special non-practicing allowance of Rs20,000-80,000 will also be available to doctors opting for CSHP as follows: HPS-9 and 10 (Rs20,000), HPS-11 (Rs40,000), HPS-12 and 13 (Rs80,000). This allowance will be given as a special incentive to ensure doctors’ presence in hospitals. Entry into the CHSP shall be optional for the existing employees; however, all fresh appointments shall be made under the new scheme. All health personnel serving under the federal government before the commencement of the ordinance shall be required to exercise an irrevocable option either to continue in the present pay and service structure or to opt for CHSP within 30 days from the date of promulgation of the ordinance. Health personnel opting to remain in BPS shall continue to remain entitled to all facilities, perks and privileges currently admissible under the existing laws, orders and instructions, as on June 30, 2011. Those opting for CHSP shall cease to be entitled to existing regular, special relief or other allowances. However, they will be entitled to additional allowances, which the federal government may grant from time to time.   The ordinance will also lead to the establishment of a new performance evaluation system for health personnel, with quantifiable targets aligned to their job descriptions. The system will be prescribed by the government on the recommendations of the Pay and Pension Commission 2009. The present performance evaluation system shall cease to be applicable to the health professionals opting for the scheme. Commenting on the development, cabinet secretary Nargis Sethi termed the ordinance ‘a turning point.’ She was confident that it would prove to be a trendsetter for similar service structure reforms in other sectors as well. It may be recalled that the draft ordinance was finalised after hectic efforts by cabinet secretary Nargis Sethi, Dr Jehanzeb Aurakzai and Dr Assad Hafeez and was submitted to the ministry of law and justice on August 15 for vetting. It was later sent to the PM, who moved the summary to the president for approval. The coming into force of the Ordinance will lead to the restoration of medical services at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), whose doctors have been on strike for 36 days now. The doctors will make an announcement to this effect today (Thursday).