CM Forms Another Committee

The provincial government has formed another special committee to resolve issues being confronted by young doctors of the province particularly on the subject of increase in salaries.

The young doctors have been on strike for the last six days on the call of Young Doctors Association Punjab that is resulting in closure of outpatients departments in public sector hospitals across province. The young doctors have been demanding pay raise, pay protection and increase in health budget.

The 6-member committee has been formed on the directives of the Punjab CM mainly to negotiate with the YDA Punjab. The committee that is being presided over by Prof. Dr Javed Akram comprised of principals of different medical colleges of the province along with medical superintendent of Mayo Hospital, Lahore. Principal Rawalpindi Medical College Prof. Afzal Farooqi is also a member of the committee.

The special committee held its first meeting on Sunday and as well negotiated with YDA Punjab representatives in Lahore however the meeting of the committee with the YDA representatives was in progress till filing of this report.

President YDA Rawalpindi Chapter Dr Umar Saeed, when contacted by ‘The News’ Sunday afternoon, said the first meeting would help the committee in framing preliminary opinion on the demands of the YDA. He added that the young doctors would continue strike in the OPDs till fulfilment of their demands. “However, the young doctors would hold free medical camps for the outpatients outside all public sector hospitals of the province from Monday.” Dr Afzal Farooqi, when contacted, said the meeting of the committee with YDA representatives is in progress.

Also the YDA representatives have planned to hold a meeting with the PML (N) MNA from Rawalpindi Muhammad Hanif Abbasi late Sunday evening. Hanif Abbasi when contacted said that at the moment he could not say what would be the outcome of his meeting with the YDA representatives.

It is important that earlier in January this year, a special committee was formed by the CM to resolve issues of the young doctors. The committee was comprised of MNA from Rawalpindi Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, MNA from Lahore Bilal Yasin, MNA from Multan Rana Mehmoodul Hassan, MPA Dr Saeed Elahi, MPA Dr Asad Ashraf, provincial health secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad and finance secretary, however, the issues could not be resolved and in result, the young doctors have gone on strike.

Thenews.com.pk Monday, March 07, 2011