Hospital strike: LHC seeks PMDC’s remarks on doctors protest

Petitioner wants action against junior doctors


Our Correspondent November 15, 2016
LHC PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has sought comments from the Punjab government and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on the recent protests by junior doctors, who disrupted hospital emergencies and out-patient departments for two weeks.

On Tuesday, LHC’s Justice Shujaat Ali Khan issued the notices on a petition filed by Najaf Abbas, seeking action against the protesting doctors for blocking roads and healthcare services.

A group of doctors associated with the Young Doctors Association (YDA) from major public-sector hospitals went on a strike and shut down emergency wards and out-patient departments while also blocking major roads of Lahore in protest, paralysing routine life.

The petitioner submitted that three people had died due to the closure of emergency services and people faced hardships in meeting schedules due to severe traffic jams. Doctors could not suspend services at any cost according to law and their responsibilities, he added.

He requested the court to direct the government and the PMDC to take action against the protesting doctors for avoiding their responsibilities.

He added the police should be ordered to register FIRs against the doctors over the deaths that occurred due to the blockade of medical facilities at government hospitals.

After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to the PMDC and the Punjab government for replying within two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2016.

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