Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Off The Record - 17th April 2012
Doctors’ strike: YDA wants more
Sensing the government’s willingness to negotiate, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) wants it to do more than just withdraw transfer orders of more than 400 doctors.
The government’s efforts to appease the doctors included withdrawal, on Tuesday, of a harassment FIR registered by a Gujrat hospital medical superintendant (MS) against two Gujrat YDA office bearers. The settlement between the MS and the doctors was negotiated by the district coordination officer.
No meeting took place between the Health Department and the association on Tuesday. Representatives from both parties had met late on Monday night but without any results.
A senior Health Department official, who was part of the negotiations, told The Express Tribune that the department had been ready to withdraw the transfer orders. However, he said, the YDA representatives had said that they also wanted the government to reorganise the service structure. That, according to the official, will take at least a year “and they want us to do it in a few days”. The official would not say by when the government hoped to persuade the doctors to call off the strike. “We are trying to resolve the issue,” he said.
Dr Khuzema Arslan Bohkari, a member of YDA-Punjab, told The Tribune that the officials had told them that discussing the service structure was not part of their mandate. “We made it clear from the beginning that we were not just opposed to the transfers but also wanted the service structure to be reorganised,” she said.
Bokhari said that the government had promised a new service structure, in 2011, after a 37-day strike by the doctors “but nothing has been done so far”. “We are only demanding that the health secretary or another relevant official announce that a new service structure will be devised within days, not months,” the YDA-Punjab members said. Bokhari said the official had told them restructuring would take a year. “Our strike won’t be called off till then,” she said.
Out-Patient Departments (OPDs), meanwhile, remained closed across the province on Tuesday. Patients and their families who had come to Lahore from other cities condemned the strike. “The doctors aren’t even attending to patients who have come from far-flung areas,” said Mohammad Ishaq, who had come to Mayo Hospital from Sialkot.
Doctors on duty at emergencies complained about being overburdened. “A lot of OPD patients are coming to us. It’s really difficult to attend to them in addition to those in need of emergency care. There is no extra staff here,” a doctor at the Mayo Hospital Emergency said.
While YDA spokesperson Dr Nasir Bokhari claimed that young doctors were helping out in emergency wards, senior professors denied this. “There isn’t anybody from YDA to help us out,” a senior doctor at Services Hospital said.
FIR withdrawn in Gujrat
Two Gujrat YDA office bearers were released from police custody and an FIR against them and five others – including the YDA Punjab president Hamid Butt – was withdrawn following a settlement negotiated by the district coordination officer.
The Gujrat chapter boycotted work on Tuesday morning following an argument with Aziz Bhatti Hospital Medical Superintendent (MS) Tahir Naveed over the arrests of YDA’s Gujrat president Saud Afzal and vice president Shiraz Malik.
Punjab president Butt was among those who staged a sit-in in front of Dr Naveed’s office and refused to let him leave until the two doctors were released. The sit-in ended when the DCO assured the demonstrators that the two doctors would be released.
Dr Naveed had earlier told police that Afzal, Malik and some others had been giving him death threats over the transfer of two paramedics from one ward of the hospital to another. In the FIR, he had said, that the suspects had broken into and vandalised his office on Monday. According to the complaint, Butt had called the MS on his cell phone and asked him to suspend the transfer orders of the paramedics.
The paramedics, said Dr Naveed, had been transferred on Friday from a medical ward to an eye ward after they were accused of stealing medicines. They had denied the allegations.
DCO Nawazish Ali told The Express Tribune that the FIR had been taken back “in the interest of the patients”. Dr Naveed said he had forgiven the doctors.
-WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM SHAHID MUNEER IN GUJRANWALA
Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2012.
Young doctors strike enters seventh day
On the call of the Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab, young doctors continued complete strike for the seventh consecutive day in all teaching hospitals to protest against the Punjab Health Department's decision to transfer ad hoc postgraduate trainees and post newly-selected medical officers by the Punjab Public Service Commission primarily in teaching hospitals of Lahore.
In Lahore, their strike at the outdoor departments of all teaching hospitals entered the seventh consecutive day, which caused immense hardships for patients and their attendants.
However, patients, requiring outdoor treatment, voluntarily stopped visiting hospitals in as many numbers as in routine days in anticipation for the unavailability of healthcare services to patients.
On Tuesday, the outdoor as well as indoor departments wore a deserted look, as the doctors stayed away from their duties.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of the patients were left unattended.
Doctors posted in emergency wards said that though the number of patients, requiring outdoor services, had significantly dropped due to the closure of outdoor services in hospitals, yet the load of patients increased in emergency wards. Besides, patients also had to face a lot of difficulties besides bearing the ordeal of long wait to get treatment in emergency wards.
The emergency departments witnessed extraordinary number of the patients, as many preferred to seek treatment there because the outdoor departments were shut down for last five days.
The patients strongly criticized the doctors for denial of cheap medical treatment facilities, as they could not afford the expensive treatment at the private hospitals.
They demanded a stern action against the doctors for their apathetic behavior towards the poor masses.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Higher salaries for capital doctors
The capital`s young doctors working in public hospitals will get significantly higher salaries and a new service structure from July 1 this year, two demands for which they went on strike last month.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday approved a summary on a new career path for health professionals, with young doctors joining the government service in grade 9 – equivalent to BPS-18 – with minimum salary package of Rs75,000 per month.
“The professional career structure for doctors will now have grades 1-13. Young doctors will be inducted in grade 9 and get around Rs75,000 per month,” Nargis Sethi, secretary health, told Dawn .
Doctors currently join the federal government hospitals in BPS-17 with a starting salary of around Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 per month.
For almost a month, Young Doctors Association`s strike brought the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic to a standstill. Demanding better service structure and higher salaries, young doctors` strike in March created immense difficulties for patients.
Under the new package, paramedics, nurses, and pharmacists have been placed in grades 1-7. Similarly senior doctors in grade 13 – equivalent to BPS-22 – would get around Rs200,000 or more per month.
Ms Sethi said Prime Minister Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari had discussed the young doctors` demands and concerns. “PM Gilani has approved the health ministry`s summary.”
She said under the summary approved by the prime minister, the doctors and other health professionals would have a separate service structure. “The decision will come into effect from July 1.”
But she also added that the financial impact of the decision was being discussed by the finance, establishment, and health secretaries.
The secretary added that with the approval of the summary, around 100 or more doctors would be inducted at the federal level.
“Now doctors will get promotion on merit and the best of them will serve in grade 13, which is equivalent to BPS-22.”
She said the Pay and Pension Commission of the federal government had endorsed the government`s decision for streamlining the “highly regarded profession of doctors”.
A senior Pims doctor, requesting anonymity, termed the government move a landmark decision for medical profession. He asked the provincial governments to follow the federal initiative to resolve the concerns of doctors.
YDA members at Pims and Polyclinic also lauded the government decision.
“With contractual doctors getting regular jobs and several of our senior doctors moving to a next grade is a great move” said Dr Owais Nizami, a key member of YDA.
The prime minister on Monday told the National Assembly that the `medical practitioners` working on contract will be regularised.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Relief and expectations as doctors return
The parking lot was full at the Services Hospital Hostel, Lahore on Friday, as doctors rushed off to duty after 37 days of strike.
In Medical Unit 4, Dr Mujahid Israr, a post-graduate trainee in internal medicine was glad to be back with his patients and nursing staff
“When I reached my ward this morning, I was overwhelmed when one of my patients, who is diabetic and suffering from lung infection, got me flowers,” said Israr.
The calling off of the strike was a source of joy amongst his colleagues, said Israr, adding they were now more motivated to work. “The main issue for young doctors was the low salary packages and the major brain drain that was taking place,” explained YDA Punjab president Usman Dar.
“We were compelled to come on the roads for our demands,” he said.”Look at the lawyers’ movement or the PIA or KESC workers – this the only way the government listens,” he added.
The biggest thing the movement brought is dignity, he said.
“The prestige of being a doctor is finally being realised and doctors are now hoping for better health infrastructure,” he added,
For patients, the end of the strike has brought relief. Farooq Hussain, whose father was admitted at the Services Hospital with a broken hip, said the doctors were now providing extra care to his father.
Some patients also appeared sensitive to the doctors’ cause. Muhammed Ali Butt, whose father was admitted into Punjab Instituite of Cardiology, said “The [doctors] have the right, but we also need people to sacrifice and work for the greater good,” said Butt, adding that the government should have resolved the situation earlier.
At Ganga Ram, assistant professor of sugery Feroke Zara expressed hope that the committee constituted by Punjab chief minister will work towards resolving the issue for good.”This should be settled because we know that an adhoc solution will never work,” Zara added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Punjab doctors call off 37-day strike
The Punjab chapter of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) finally called off its strike on Thursday after a 37-day long agitation as a ‘goodwill gesture’ to coincide with the World Health Day. After the announcement junior doctors started resuming their duties at public sector hospitals of the province.
The drop scene of the longest-ever strike of doctors in the country came after a 17-minute long meeting between Shahbaz Sharif and four YDA leaders at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, where the latter announced calling off the strike.
Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, the chief minister’s senior adviser, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Senator Pervaiz Rashid were also present on the occasion. The YDA was represented by its president and secretary general.
Sources said the breakthrough was made late on Wednesday at a meeting between the YDA leaders Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah.
The minister argued that the closure of emergency departments of public hospitals on the Health Day would bring a bad name to the country. As a result, a majority of doctors resumed their duties on Thursday morning.
The law minister assured the doctors the government was ready to accept their demands for a pay raise.
Rana Sanaullah also informed the YDA leaders that the Punjab Health Department had been directed to reinstate all sacked young doctors and to withdraw notices issued to agitators.
The ban on the entry of protesting doctors in public sector health institutions of the province would also be lifted, the YDA was assured.
“The young doctors have restored all critical care departments of the state-run health facilities, including emergency and ICU-CCU,” Rana Sanaullah told Dawn.
He said all the young doctors, including YDA office-bearers whose services had been terminated by the department during the strike, would be reinstated immediately.
The law minister said the YDA had called off its strike unconditionally.
The association’s office-bearers told the media at Services Hospital that the chief minister had accepted their demands and assured them that the salary issue would be resolved on a priority basis.
YDA’s Punjab president Dr Hamid Butt said all the critical care departments of the public hospitals, including OPDs, had been made functional after most doctors returned to work on Thursday.
He said the chief minister had set up a six-member committee, comprising Sirdar Zulfiqar Khosa, Pervaiz Rasheed and Rana Sanaullah from the government side, and YDA office-bearers Dr Haroon, Dr Abbacy Gondola and Dr Nair, to prepare recommendations regarding the special pay package and submit a report within 15 days.
Hospital sources confirmed the critical care departments functioned fully on Thursday. The attendance of doctors was almost 80 per cent.
YDA Punjab ends 37-day long strike
Meanwhile, CM Punjab constituted a six-member committee to look into the demands of the YDA, which would be comprised of Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Senior Advisor to Punjab CM Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and three members of young doctors.
The committee would present a report to CM in one week.
The CM Punjab ensured doctors to solve their just problems and ensured that their salaries would be raised in the next budget.
A six-member delegation comprising young doctors called on Shahbaz Sharif at the CM House and an hour-long dialogue were culminated at success.
Later, YDA Punjab announced to end their 37-day long strike.
Mian Shahbaz Sharif said that the salaries of young doctors would be increased in next budget.
Talking to media persons Rana sanaullah khan said that the responsibility of the deaths of patients during the strike equally lies upon government, media and doctors.
He said that the families of the deceased patients would be compensated over loss of lives.
Talking to media, Dr Haroon said that the dialogue with chief minister and his team were held amid a very positive atmosphere, adding that the CM has ensured doctors to solve their just problems.
He further said that Shahbaz Sharif also ensured to meet at anytime and any place to solve their problems.
Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued Notices on Punjab Doctors (YDA) Strike:
Lahore High Court Chief Justice (CJ) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry has summoned in court today (Friday) the Punjab chief secretary in person to give explanation regarding the deteriorating condition of health facilities in hospitals due to strike of the Young Doctors Association (YDA). CJ Chaudhry observed that the provincial government had completely failed in controlling the present crisis and deplored that those responsible are playing with the lives of the masses. CJ Chaudhry remarked that within twenty-four hours, the chief minister (CM) had suspended officers of commissioner rank, but despite a passage of 36 days, the provincial government did not take any action against the responsible (secretary health). CJ Chaudhry, while pointing out that all government hospitals had been closed because of the strike, said that the government was playing with lives of the poor who could not afford going to private hospitals. He further remarked that whosoever is responsible for causing closure of the hospitals would have to face the consequences and that it would be decided soon as to whether cases should be registered against those responsible. Separately, the CJ also summoned YDA president to explain the legal position of establishment of the YDA. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Punjab Health Secretary Fawad Hassan Fawad appeared in the court and submitted that the doctors started their strike in the emergency departments on March 31 while the government was able to restore the emergency treatment within three days. He said senior doctors had also been taken into confidence to bring the young doctors back to hospitals. staff report
CS, YDA officials summoned
Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry on Thursday summoned Punjab chief secretary and office-bearers of the Young Doctors Association for Friday (today) to explain their respective stances on the doctors strike in public sector hospitals.
He was hearing two petitions – one against the strike of doctors and another challenging registration of cases against them.
He admonished the Punjab government for its failure to resolve the issue of young doctors which resulted in many deaths.
The CJ observed that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was known for removing officers even on minor negligence but despite a lapse of a month he did not take any action against health secretary for his complete failure to cope with the protesting doctors.
The chief justice also condemned the young doctors for observing prolonged strike and questioned the legality of their association.
“Those responsible for the crisis at hospitals will be taken to task irrespective of their status, ” the chief justice remarked.
The chief justice expressed his displeasure over inefficiency of health secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad which, he said, resulted in deterioration of health facilities at the hospitals.
Earlier, Mr Fawad informed the court that since day one of the strike the government was engaged with the protesting doctors.
Admitting patients faced trouble during the crisis, the secretary said the government tried its level best to minimise their worries.
Mr Fawad said the young doctors were demanding a raise in their salaries which was only possible through finance bill and would be applicable from the next fiscal year.
But, he said, the doctors were demanding the government should issue notification for a pay raise forthwith, adding the government had to consider paramedics and nursing staff also while increasing doctors’ salaries.
The secretary said the doctors started their strike in emergency departments of hospitals on March 31, and the government restored emergency treatment of patients within three days. Mr Fawad said senior doctors were also taken into confidence to bring the young ones back to work.
At this, the CJ remarked, “We know that all government hospitals were closed and no senior doctor was available as they also joined the strike by young doctors.”
The CJ said the poor could not go to private hospitals and the government had been playing with their lives.
Counsel for the petitioner, Manzoor Qadir, a journalist, who challenged the strike, informed the court that the Young Doctors Association had been harassing the doctors who wanted to perform duties at hospitals.
He said they used abusive language against lady doctors and stopped them from work. He said 200 patients lost their lives due to the YDA strike.
An additional advocate general informed the court that some doctors on ad hoc basis had been engaged by the government and in case the protesting doctors did not return to work, these medics would treat the patients at private hospitals.
Mr Qadir had submitted that doctors violated their code of professional conduct by observing the strike and causing serious problems to citizens.
He prayed that the government be directed to take action against the doctors and order them to call off their illegal strike forthwith.
While the doctors through a separate petition challenged cases against them and sought their cancellation.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
YDA likely to call off the strike
The Young Doctors Association (YDA) is likely to announce to call off strike and resumes the duties. The YDA meeting is still on and there is a strong notion that they have reached on some positive patch up with the provincial government. However, no member was willing to break the news. They said the government had already annoyed them when it broke the news to the media about YDA talks with Zulfiqar Khosa.
Till filing of this report, a positive development was believed to be emerging. The decision, purportedly, will be announced at 11pm during a press conference. The press conference was first scheduled at 10 pm but delayed for one hour.
‘PCO doctors’ unacceptable: YDA
Young Doctors Association (YDA) President Hamid Butt has demanded removal of Punjab Health Secretary and said “PCO doctors” being recruited by the heads of different health institutions are not acceptable.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said removal, suspension and fresh recruitment of “PCO doctors” cannot bring any improvement in the situation, as the provincial government has failed in running the hospitals. He condemned the removal of doctors and notices to many others and expressed their resolve to fight for their rights despite alleged intimidation by the government.
Hamid Butt said the government had promised to accept their demands but it is backing out and intimidating the doctors who are waging a just struggle. He said they cannot be afraid of termination orders and threats because they are waging a just struggle.The Secretary General of Islamic Teachers Association Prof Dr Amjad said on the occasion that young doctors had shown flexibility in their attitude by calling off strike in Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore and other Cardiology Institutes in the province. He said the doctors had already resumed duties in Cardiology Institutes from Monday nights; therefore, the government should also show magnanimity and find an amicable and dignified solution of the problem.
He supported the demand of young doctors for pay increase and asked the government to raise the salaries of young doctors first and consider the pay increase case of senior doctors at later stage. He said young doctors are asset of the country and their issues must be addressed as per promise made by the government.
On the other hand, Provincial Health Department has removed as many as 13 more doctors from service on the charges of creating hurdles in the treatment of the patients and taking part in strike in government hospitals.
Those who have been removed from service include Dr. Rafiqa Awan, Dr. Rukhsana Perveen and Dr. Sher Ali Khan from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore, Dr. Mujahid Razzaq and Dr. Hassan Ali from Children Hospital Lahore, Dr. Riaz Malik, Dr. Abdus Saddiq and Dr. Ayesha Saeed from Mayo Hospital, Dr. Rashid Imran, Dr. Adnan Bashir and Dr. Faisal Feroz Rana from Services Hospital and Dr. Muhammad Arif and Dr. Fateh Sher Chattah from Jinnah Hospital Lahore.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
YDA’s strike claims 22 lives in Multan
YDA carries on strike 37th day
Young Doctors Association (YDA) prolonged strike continued even on its 37th day all across the province of Punjab including the capital city here, while the government remains adamant handling the ugly situation with iron hands, the patients seeking urgent medical aid kept wailing and weeping helplessly.
The situation further aggravated as the senior doctors have also announced their support to the demands of their young colleagues, leaving the normal operations in the hospitals totally paralyzed, outdoor, indoor as well as emergency remained shut, seizing all options of the patients to get some sort of medical help.
The cruel apathetic attitude of the government towards the ailing humanity in the province and its failure to pacify the enraged doctors by negotiating some settlement with the low paid financially crippled doctors costing precious lives of specially the poor, who could not afford luxury of getting treatments in five-star hospitals, an exclusive privilege of the ruling elites.
PIMS’ young doctors call off strike, YDA still on strike
Young Doctors in PIMS Tuesday called off strike after meeting Secretary Health Nargis Sethi with them in the hospital.
However, the strike was not called off by young doctors in other hospitals as Young Doctors Association (YDA) President in Islamabad is so far hesitant to end the strike.
Young Doctors Association (YDA) President in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Dr. Sajid Abbasi announced that he call off the strike continuing for long. He also announced that wearing of the black tape would also be abandoned from Wednesday. This was the first ever talks of the government officials with YDA leaders in PIMS as Abbasi was not part of the talks that the health ministry and Senate held with YDA leadership in the Capital and Federal Government Services Hospitals’ young doctors.
After the meeting, talking to media men Sethi said that the government accepted demands of the doctors and a notification in this connection would issued within a week. She also announced in increase in practicing allowance for the doctors.
It is pertinent to mention that YDA in the Capital had 14-point demands like regularization of the contractual over 300 doctors, job structures, pay raise, high-risk allowance, call allowance and others for which they were holding strikes.
YDA President for Islamabad Dr. Muhammad Ajmal was stressing that the government has two choice either to accept the demands as a whole or reject it.
“So far no notification was issued and we are unaware of the details of the talks that the ministry held with the leadership in PIMS, however the development is positive,” he told Online.
However, even if the dialogue proved successful a token protest would continue in solidarity with YDA in Punjab as the YDA in Islamabad and the former are chapters of each other, he added.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sindh, Balochistan doctors warn of strikes
Doctors in Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah announced on Monday that they will go on strikefrom Tuesday after talks with health ministry officials broke down, while Balochistan physicians endorsed the demands of Punjab doctors and said they would also go on strike if their demands were not met.
Junior doctors working in out-patient departments in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), National Institute of Child Health (NICH) and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) said they would join the strike.
The Young Doctors Association (YDA), which called the strike in Punjab as well, insisted that their agenda was being misconstrued and the authorities were trying to malign them.
Dr Abbas Ali Shah, a member of the YDA, said that they were working on a two-pronged strategy: firstly, they want to show support for their colleagues in Punjab, who are being treated very harshly by the provincial government over there, and they want uniform pay-and-perk packages across the country.
He says the gap in federal and provincial pay-scales was too wide: postgraduate doctors get Rs22,500 at the federal level, while doctors with similar educational background earn just Rs12,000 at the provincial level.
JPMC’s joint executive director Dr Seemin Jamali said that media should not give much credence to the young doctors, “They are just a bunch of troublemakers.”
YDA members say the out-patient departmentss in JPMC and NICH will remain closed for an hour from Tuesday. They have also called a press conference on the kerb outside the hospital.
Jamali asserted that the protesting doctors : “Let me make one thing very clear, in case patient care is hampered in any way, the law will take its course.”
PMA stance
The Karachi chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) disowned the protesting doctors, saying they did not back strikes which affect patients’ welfare. PMA Karachi Spokesperson Dr Samrina Hashmi said that the YDA had not contacted the PMA or communicated their demands.
“Shutting down clinics or OPDs is not the way to go about pressing for their demands.” She said if contacted the PMA would see if they should support their agenda, but insisted that her association would not support such protests.
Protest in Balochistan
In Quetta, the Balochistan chapter of the Young Doctors Association threatened to go on strike to mount pressure on the provincial government for the acceptance of their demands.
Kamal Mandokhel, Ayathullah Kakar and Asif Baloch of the YDA-Balochistan said they did not want to create problems for anyone, but would resort to a token protest by staging rallies and demonstrations in the coming days.
“We support the demands of our colleagues in other provinces and call upon the Balochistan government to
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.
Doctors resume duties on Dunya News request
A representative of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) announced in Dunya News program ‘Khari Baat’ that doctors would attend the Punjab Institute of Cardiology emergency ward in Lahore and Multan.
Five young doctors resumed their duties in the emergency ward of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore on Tuesday. The indoor and outdoor units of the hospital are still closed.
The government had assigned the emergency wards to the senior doctors but they admitted that they alone could not mange the job.
Meanwhile, the YDA’s strike entered 36th day on Tuesday. Several patients have lost their lives amid the strike for being denied medical treatment. Those, who can afford, are visiting private hospitals but majority of the patients cannot afford the expenses of private hospitals and they are just waiting helplessly for the end of strike.
The doctors’ strike needs to end: Letter to the Editor
The on-going Punjab-wide strike by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) is most unfortunate because it has reportedly resulted in several deaths, as patients in dire need of medical care have been left unattended.
I recently graduated from a private medical institution and, fortunately for me, I am not my family’s sole breadwinner. Yet, I can feel the desperation of my disgruntled colleagues who worked hard to get their medical degrees only to find that the state has failed to give them the respect and financial security that they deserve.
That said, it is inexcusable that people have to die as a result of workers in any sector of the economy going on strike. The training I received at my medical school only reiterated the lessons, that my religion and my parents had instilled in me since childhood; that human life is sacred. Additionally, since receiving my medical diploma, I am obligated to keep my patients above everything, including myself. The situation now calls for both sides to show an urgent display of maturity.
The YDA needs to exhibit a stronger allegiance to the Hippocratic Oath and ensure that the brunt of their dissent does not fall on those who are acutely ill. And the Punjab government needs to recognise the fact that these young doctors are a vital cog in the machinery that keeps the public health sector afloat. Concessions will have to be made by both sides, and the earlier both sides come to terms with this, the better.
Dr Omair Shakil
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2011.
Doctors' strike: Karachi doctors join in
Doctors in Karachi, on Monday, announced that will go on strike from 11am onwards on Tuesday until the government fulfills their demands.
According to Express 24/7 correspondent Sheheryar Mirza, the doctors said that they are holding the strike in support of their colleague in Punjab as well as to have certain demands fullfilled.
The demands made by the doctors include a pay raise to Rs20,000 to Rs30,000 along with provision of certain benefits like free medical treatment for family members.
The doctors will also hold a press conference at 2pm on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Faisalabad, at least six patients lost their lives on the same day, owing to the continuing clashes between the Punjab government and the medical staff of the province.
The Young Doctors Association (YDA) asked its members to submit resignations while more than 400 doctors from Multan are set to send their resignations to the Secretary Health Punjab.
The government paying no heed to the doctors’ demands started taking interviews for new hires.
Talking to the media, MS Nishtar Hospital confirmed that so far 10 applications have been received for new recruitments.
The new doctors will take up the job after the government’s approval.
Updated from print edition (below)
Doctors’ strike: Sindh doctors vow to support colleagues in Punjab
Even as the Punjab government began terminating the employment of some of the striking junior doctors, their colleagues in Sindh announced on Sunday that they would also be going on strike in solidarity with the Punjab physicians.
Junior doctors in Sindh demanded that their compensation be increased to match the levels of their colleagues in Punjab and threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met by Monday (today), according to Abbas Ali Shah, the president of the Sindh chapter of the Young Doctors Association (YDA). The Punjab chapter of the junior doctors’ association had called the strike on April 1 in that province.
The Punjab YDA had temporarily called off its strike in Dera Ghazi Khan on Sunday, following the terrorist attack there which left dozens of people dead. Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the Punjab YDA, Aftab Ashraf, said that his organisation would continue its strike until their demands were met.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government began cracking down against the striking doctors, terminating the employment of at least 60 of them and replacing them with recent graduates from medical colleges.
The decision was made at a late night meeting on Saturday between the provincial health secretary and hospital administrators.
“Termination notices across Punjab have been given to those who are not resuming their duties and those inciting the strikes in the country,” said Mayo Hospital Vice Chancellor Asad Aslam. “The strike in emergency rooms is against the ethics of any doctor.”
Aslam said that Mayo Hospital had begun the hiring process for at least 18 new medical college graduates who had not been hired due to a hiring freeze in the province’s hospitals that had been ongoing before the strike. YDA Punjab members, however, say that the government’s efforts to replace them are not likely to succeed.
“This is not some bazaar that you can replace doctors on a whim,” said Abu Bakr, a YDA member at Jinnah Hospital in Lahore. “You have to have years of experience and simply hiring recent MBBS graduates will not improve the situation.”
On Sunday morning, Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, a member of Punjab’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz party, met a 17-member delegation of the Pakistan Medical Association regarding the striking doctors in the province. According to the PMA, the organisation fully supported the demands of the YDA Punjab doctors but differed on the method used to attain those demands.
“In the existing service structure, this will be a setback,” said PMA secretary General Izhar Chaudary referring to the decision to hire new doctors. “We will get the new doctors but it will breed new frustration.”
Patients continue to suffer
Medical services at hospitals across Punjab continued to remain patchy as the non-striking doctors struggled to cope with the workload of managing with a severely truncated staff.
Several patients reported not being able to get treatment for hours, even days from doctors. There have been unconfirmed reports of several deaths occurring owing to a lack of medical attention due to the strike, but these could not be independently verified.
Mehmoud Ahmed, a mosque imam from Rahim Yar Khan, had been referred to Lahore Children’s Hospital from the Sheikh Zayed Hospital. He said that he had been at the hospital for three days and the doctors had not been able to diagnose what was wrong with his son. He said beds were empty in many wards and in some places there were 10 beds with only 1 patient.
Punjab government officials, meanwhile, continue to dutifully offer figures on the number of patients treated in the province’s public hospitals, though they did not give numbers of patients who were left untreated, or even a comparison between current figures and comparable periods in the hospitals’ history.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2011.