YDA boycotts out-patient departments across Punjab

Teaching hospitals in the city continue to function.

LAHORE:

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab boycotted duties at Outpatient Departments (OPDs) at public hospitals in Lahore and across the province on Wednesday.

Most of the teaching hospitals in Lahore, however, functioned according to their schedule. Young doctors established camps outside the OPDs of Children Hospital Lahore, Jinnah Hospital and Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) Lahore.

The Health Department on Wednesday also initiated an inquiry against three doctors under Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act on the charges of creating hurdles in provision of healthcare facilities to patients and for trying to forcibly close OPDs of public hospitals. These three were YDA President of Services Hospital Dr Bisharat Gill, YDA member of Mayo Hospital Dr Matloob and Children Hospital Women Medical Officer Dr Jaweria Fatima.



A Health Department official said hospitals have also been directed to make lists of all doctors who were setting up camps outside OPDs instead of working in the hospitals. The patients at PIC suffered due to the closure of OPD on Monday. The young doctors, he said, had established camps away from the new OPD, he said. Patients had to go to the new OPD building to register and then to the camp for consultation. YDA members also tried to establish camps outside OPD at Services Hospital and Mayo Hospital, however, they were stopped by the administrations. Senior doctors have also been deputed at OPDs to keep the hospitals running. Police have also been deputed at hospitals so that senior doctors aren’t harassed, a Health Department official said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.