[No] health care: Doctors threaten boycott over dissolution of PGMI

Say institute imparted training in more than 20 specialisations

PESHAWAR: Doctors associations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have warned of protests if the government fails to withdraw a notification dissolving the Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI). They threatened to boycott health services across the province if their demands are not fulfilled.

The demand was made during a press conference held jointly by various doctors associations at the Lady Reading Hospital on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by clerks, information technology employees, nurses and paramedical staff.



Young Doctors Association (YDA) member Dr Amjad Shahzad said the government has dissolved an institution where doctors were trained for various specialisations.

He added the government’s action showed it was “carrying out experiments on health institutions”. According to Shahzad, PGMI imparted quality training to doctors; with its dissolution, both doctors and patients will suffer.

The YDA member said, “PGMI is a reputed research institution. We don’t know what will happen to research once it is dissolved.” The PGMI introduced more than 20 specialisations and the government’s decision will have an adverse effect on doctors’ training, he added.

“Doctors have rendered services in tough times, especially when the province was hit by terrorism, but the government did not offer any extra packages to health providers,” commented Shahzad.

He said the present government failed to introduce a successful health policy and neglected stakeholders while drafting policies for the health sector.

PGMI teaching association president Dr Musa Kaleem said the government should come through on promises it made to doctors and demanded the notification dissolving the PGMI be withdrawn.

He said a general body meeting will be called soon and a fresh strategy will be adopted regarding the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th,  2016.