YDA fears action against doctors, warns government of consequences

The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab, warned the provincial government of the consequences announcing that in case of use of force even against a single doctor, all services including emergency, intensive care units, coronary care units, labour rooms and operation theatres in hospitals across the province would be withdrawn.

After getting information from its sources in intelligence services about the government action against doctors on Monday (today), the General Council of the YDA held a tele-meeting on Saturday night. In the meeting, all city presidents of the association in the province decided that in case of use of force by the government to check doctors’ movement, the doctors would withdraw all their services from all public sector hospitals of the province.

On the call of the Punjab YDA, young doctors withdrew their services from outpatient departments of all public sector hospitals on March 1 after getting no response from the provincial government on the subject of increase in their salaries, pay protection and increase in health budget. On Sunday, the doctors’ strike in OPDs entered 13th day, however, the young doctors have been running free medical camps outside hospitals to accommodate poor patients. The YDA also announced that from Monday to Wednesday, strike in OPDs would continue, however, free medical camps would continue to serve the public.

“On March 17, all the young doctors of Punjab including medical officers, house officers and postgraduate trainees would stage a sit-in protest on roads in front of hospitals while complete strike would be observed in all departments of the hospitals,” said YDA Chairman Dr Muhammad Haroon while talking to ‘The News’.

President YDA Rawalpindi Chapter Dr Umar Saeed told ‘The News’ Sunday morning that the YDA received information through its sources in intelligence agencies that the provincial government is planning to use force against office-bearers of the YDA on Monday. “We would not tolerate use of force even against a single doctor.” Dr Umar added that the young doctors would continue holding up free medical camps till Wednesday adding “Because young doctors are not insensitive like the Punjab government and we would not like to let patients suffer in our struggle for our rights.”