LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir has said his department has removed hurdles to the overseas employment of nurses and decided to process their applications for ex-Pakistan leave on urgent basis.

He observes that on return of these nurses from abroad, the local patients and hospitals will benefit from their experience.

The minister says these nurses will also send remittances back home, serving a national cause, as Pakistan is in needfor preciousforeign exchange.

The department has issued detailed guidelinesforthenursesin variousbasic pay scales, including head nurses and charge nurses, desirous of working abroad for getting ex-Pakistan leave.

He says to qualify for the ex-Pakistanleave, the applicants must be regular employees, as these guidelines shall not be applicable to the nurses working on contract or ad-hoc basis.

The applicant should have a valid employment offer letter from the health facility abroad.

In case the visa has been obtained,it may also be attached with the leave application.

The minister says that in case the applicant is unable to provide the leave title duly approved by the District Accounts Office, the application may be processed subject to leave title and by no means shall be used to delay the approval.

As per the guidelines, the applications may be directly submitted with the facilitation centre, HISDU and shall be decided within a period of four working days from the date of submission.

The forwarding of application byimmediate head of the institution where a nurse is serving shall not be required, the health minister says.

He says the deputy secretary concerned shall daily review the pendency of such applications.

Similarly, the substitute may also be provided to such health facility at a later stage, and by no means this shall be a reason to delay sanctioning of the leave.

If any applicant is facing charges under the PEEDA ACT, 2006, the application shall be examined and processed on case to case basis,keepingin view the gravity of charges as per the guidelines, the health minister concludes.

PIC FILTER CLINIC: Caretaker Health Minister Dr Javed Akram inaugurated the `Satellite Filter Clinic` of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) at the Said Mitha Hospital,Lahore,on Wednesday.

In his address on the occasion, he said the well-equipped filter clinic, will prove to be a great facility for thousands of residents of walled city and other areas in its vicinity, adding that more such satellite cardiac facilities will be opened in Punjab to share the massive burden of patients on the PIC, Lahore.The minister said at the clinic doctors will perform dutiesround the clockforthe convenienceof patients.

King Edward Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mahmood Ayaz termed the filter clinic a major project of the government in the health sector.PIC Board of Management Chairman Dr Fargad Alamgir, KEMU Pro ViceChancellor Prof Dr Ejaz, PIC CEO Prof Dr Ahmed Nauman, Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Tahsin and other senior medics were also present.