The uneasy truce: Doctors still sceptical over assurances

Say agreements reached during meeting at CM House ‘could be trashed’

PESHAWAR: Though a figurative ceasefire exists between doctors protesting certain reforms in the health sector and the provincial government, there is a distinct lack of trust between the two parties.

The resisting doctors withdrew a strike call following what the government claimed were ‘successful talks’ at the CM House last week. The provincial chief executive was himself present on the occasion.

However, doubts continued to persist as doctors questioned the government’s commitment to fulfilling their demands. “Yes, we need evidence as we doubt the government’s assurance,” Young Doctors Association Patron-in-Chief Alamgir Yousafzai told The Express Tribune.

Yousafzai distrusted the government and its clout. “Where there is no Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan and Lady Reading Hospital Board of Governors Chair Dr Nosherwan Barki, there is no agreement.”

The health workers demanded a copy of the minutes from the meeting at CM House. However, they claim CM House officials refused to provide a copy as a final outcome of the meeting was still pending.

Yousafzai also alleged Imran and Barki held talks with the relevant officials soon after the meeting and doubts surfaced among the medical fraternity that the “settlement had been trashed”.

On Monday, a meeting was scheduled between employees and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Health Jamal Yousaf. However, despite the official being present at his office, the doctors refused to hold the meeting, citing a “lack of trust in the secretary” and his authority.

War of words

Sources present during the meeting at CM House said harsh words were exchanged between Yousafzai and Yousaf. This prompted Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai to intervene.

“He is the secretary health of the entire province and you cannot behave like this,” sources quoted Tarakai as telling Yousafzai. The source said Yousafzai later apologised for his behaviour.

The secretary health confirmed the war of words and added the doctors had “misbehaved”.

“Why would we create problems for others since it is not the interest of health employees or patients?” asked Yousaf. He told The Express Tribune that MTI Reforms Act 2015 was being implemented after court orders, but PGMI could not be touched as the matter was subjudice.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2016.