Doctor’s strike: Raising their voices against poor provisions

Young doctors protest in Islamabad following suit of Rawalpindi doctors.

ISLAMABAD:

Joining the protest by Punjab Young Doctors Association (YDA), the doctors of the capital are also on the streets. They are demanding a pay raise, implementation of service structure and regularisation of doctors on contract.

About 250 doctors of Polyclinic Hospital gathered in Argentina Park on Monday and went on a token strike from 12pm to 1pm.

“For the last three days, we have been silently protesting by wearing black armbands during our duty hours. But after getting no response, we are now on the streets,” President YDA Islamabad Mohammad Ajmal told The Express Tribune. He said a week ago, they had moved an application before the president, prime minister and other high-ups in the Ministry of Health but did not get a response.

Ajmal added that their salaries were low in comparison to lower staff in other government departments.Giving examples, he said, the House Officer is getting Rs18,000, Post Graduate Medical Officer Rs22,000 and others on contract are receiving Rs 26,000-27,000.

Meanwhile, a meeting of young doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) was held in the hospital on Monday during which they decided to join the protest from Tuesday by wearing black armbands during duty hours.

Talking to the Express Tribune, Director General Health Dr Asad Hafeez, said the ministry will do all it can for the young doctors, but it will take time.

He further said he was waiting for a formal request from the YDA Islamabad to look into the matter.

However, according to sources in the Ministry of Health, the Departmental Promotion Committee on Tuesday will implement the services structure of the YDA Islamabad and raise their salaries.The doctors on grade 4 to 7 will be promoted to grade 9, while grade 9 will be promoted to 12 and 14 considering their seniority.

On the other hand, the strike of YDA in Rawalpindi continues, but their case has been taken up by Lahore High Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2011.