Negotiations: Doctors call off strike after govt agrees to resolve grievances

Maintenance work: Power supply to remain suspended

PESHAWAR: The protesting doctors in the provincial capital called off their strike on Monday after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health department agreed to resolve their issues. Fresh graduates of medical colleges protested at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), demanding health department induct 400 trainee medical officers (TMO).

The protesters, led by cabinet members of the Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) gathered at zero point at LRH and marched towards the provincial assembly building shouting slogans in favour of their demands.

They said negotiations with the health department were being held for the last two months but nothing concrete had emerged. The demonstrators said the health department was uninterested and since the last date for registration with the Council of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP) was July 31, their career was at stake. The graduates added the department must issue a notification so they could be accommodated in different hospitals.

They also said since their future was at stake, they will not hesitate to go to any extent. They warned of increasing their agitation and blocking roads if their demands were not met.

Later, the health department including secretary for health held negotiations with PDA members.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.