Improve service structure or face another strike: doctors

YDA gives the provincial government till June 18.

RAWALPINDI:

In yet another threat to the provincial government, doctors in Rawalpindi on Monday warned to would go on strike from June 18 a notification for service structure changes was not issued. The agreement regarding a new service structure was earlier made between the Punjab government and the Young Doctors Association (YDA).

All outpatients departments (OPDs) in the three main government hospitals will not be attended by YDA members, said YDA Punjab Chairman Dr Haroon Khan. The patients would be diagnosed and treated in separate camps that will be installed outside the hospital buildings, he said.

Addressing a press conference at Rawalpindi Press Club, district YDA representatives said from June 12 they would start wearing black armbands to work.

The young medical practitioners were annoyed with the provincial government for not providing the new service structure. Majority of us have to retire from service in BPS-17 or 18 no matter how long we serve, said another doctor present at the occasion.

Dr Khan added that YDA Punjab was going to arrange a grand convention in Lahore on June 13. We have invited Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to attend the gathering as well, he said.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2012.