YDA calls off strike as Punjab govt withholds transfers

Government withholds all transfers of doctors, agrees on reviewing them with YDA Punjab from Friday.


Ali Usman April 19, 2012

LAHORE: Young Doctors Association (YDA) called off its strike on Thursday after the Punjab government gave in and accepted the doctors’ demands.

The government suspended all transfers of doctors and agreed on reviewing them with YDA Punjab from Friday.

“As soon as a consensus develops on the policy of transfers/postings between YDA Punjab, the government transfers would be announced,” a participant of the meeting, headed by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, told The Express Tribune.

Secretary Health Captain (R) Arif Nadeem, Chief Minister’s Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique and YDA office bearers were present in the meeting where negotiations were finalised.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who still holds the Punjab Health Ministry portfolio, will also announce a committee within five days comprising senior politicians, three secretaries including secretary health, secretary finance and secretary regulation, members of YDA Punjab and other stakeholders to come up with their suggestions on a new Service Structure. The recommendations will be finalised within four weeks, participants of the meeting told The Express Tribune.

Core member of YDA Punjab, Dr Khuzema Arslan Bokhari, who was part of the negotiations, said, “our negotiations were successful hence we have called off the strike. We will sit with Punjab government and point out where merit wasn’t followed in transfers. We are not opposed to the transfers on merit.”

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