LAHORE, King Edward Medical University (KEMU) is short of four professors, six associate professors and eight assistant professors in various departments that dealt a severe blow to the training of young doctors and medical students as well as treatment of the patients.

According to details, the gravity of situation reflects in departments of biochemistry, radiology, nephrology and pharmacology, functioning without professors for the last several months - the seat of professor of pharmacology fell vacant when Prof Dr Shabbir Bhatti, who was also former Controller of Examinations of KEMU, left the KEMU recently and joined a private medical college.

Six seats of associate professors of various departments, including two seats in Department of Pharmacology, one seat each in departments of Community Medicine, Anatomy, Nephrology and Biochemistry were lying vacant.

Furthermore, eight seats of assistant professors of various departments, including three seats in Department of Forensic Medicine, two seats each in departments of Anatomy and Community Medicine while one seat was lying vacant in the Department of Biochemistry.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) lambasted the KEMU administration for prolonged delay in filling posts of senior medical teachers in key departments, which was causing loss to academic activities of medical students and practical training of young doctors besides badly affecting the standard of diagnostic and treatment services to the patients in the attached Mayo Hospital. “The KEMU must immediately fill vacant posts of professors, associate professors and assistant professors in various departments to impart quality education and training to the students and doctors as well as to provide treatment to the patients in the hospital,” said Dr Salman Kazmi, YDA general secretary.