Demands not met: Doctors ride donkey carts in protest

Threaten to shut all medical facilities in Punjab on December 7

DERA GHAZI KHAN: In a unique protest of its kind, doctors took to the streets against the government’s induction policy by riding donkey carts in Dera Ghazi Khan.

As part of the protest, the doctors boycotted the out-patient department and closed the emergency ward of Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan on Monday. On the occasion, they shouted slogans against the government and demanded addressal of their grievances.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Young Doctors Association (YDA) Vice-President Dr Anjum Baloch and others said the doctors had been protesting against the central induction policy of the government but the authorities failed to address their demands. They demanded of the government to revise the induction policy.  The doctors also announced complete boycott of medical facilities across Punjab from December 7, if their grievances were not fulfilled.

Meanwhile, YDA Acting President Dr Ateeq told The Express Tribune that the provincial government had transferred Dr Anjum Baloch against the rules and they would continue to protest till the government take back its decision.

The protests against the policy continued from the start of the year across Punjab when it was introduced by the health department. However, it was unofficially accepted by different sections of the YDA around two months ago.

Those unhappy with the policy took to the streets after a two-month gap and said it was going to be the “killer” of the medical profession.

However, the health department officials said the government had already endorsed the policy and it cannot change it.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2016.