The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab, has removed free medical camps established outside all public sector hospitals of the province while continuing strike in Outpatient departments for 25th day on Friday.
“We removed free medical camps three days back because holding up of the camps have become unaffordable for the young doctors who have already been given meagre salaries by the government,” said President YDA Rawalpindi Chapter Dr Umar Saeed while talking to ‘The News’ on Friday.
He added that the young doctors are expecting some positive response from Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif. “The provincial health secretary informed the YDA that the government has decided to give pay raise to the young doctors from July this year, however the young doctors want something in black and white on the subject.”
Dr Umar said that the health secretary did not tell that how much increase in salaries would be given nor he succeeded in having notification on the subject. “The young doctors across province are adamant to have notification regarding pay raise,” he said.
He added that the concerned government officials and central leadership of the ruling PML-N in the province including Punjab chief minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has assured YDA that the demands of the young doctors would be given due consideration. “We believed the assurances given but nothing positive have so far been done,” said Dr Umar.
On the call of Young Doctors Association Punjab, the young doctors withdrew their services from OPDs of all public sector hospitals in the province on March 1, however indoor patients departments, Intensive Care Units, Coronary Care Units and Emergency Departments of the hospitals have been operational as per routine.
The young doctors have been demanding 100 percent pay raise, pay protection and increase in health budget. The YDA office bearers met with Punjab CM during January this year and he assured the YDA that young doctors would be given increase in salaries yet the government has done nothing so far to solidify its claim. “The young doctors want the CM to come forward and give assurance on the subject of pay raise in front of media,” said Dr Umar
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