Pakistan

Doctors give government 48 hours to raise salaries

Young Doctors Association gives Punjab govt ultimatum to increase salaries of doctors working in allied hospitals.

Express March 02, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has 48 hours to increase the salaries of doctors working in allied hospitals. The ultimatum was given by Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Tuesday during a protest.

Protestors including postgraduate trainees, house officers of Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and District Headquarter Hospital gathered on Murree Road in front of BBH at 10am and staged a demonstration.

The were demanding an increase in pays and the evacuation of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) girls’ hostel currently under the occupation of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Students of RMC and Islamic International Medical College also joined the protest. They blocked the road till 2pm and chanted slogans against Punjab government. Their placards were inscribed with messages such as “go NAB go”, “raise doctors’ pays”, “give us our hostel back” and “stop injustice against doctors”.

Outpatient department of the hospitals remained closed due to which a large number of patients suffered but the emergency departments, operations theatres and paediatrics departments remained functional.

Dr Mohammad Haroon, President YDA, said the chief minister of Punjab had assured them on January 10 that there will be a 100 percent increase in their salaries. “But nothing has happened so far.”

He added that they had planned to march towards RMC hostel, but NAB officials had assured them that 70 per cent of the hostel will be evacuated within a week.

The doctors will continue their protest on Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2011.

COMMENTS (6)

dr madiha | 13 years ago | Reply @dr nasir.. its vry easy to say dis but strike started after drs ve tried all other options its nt d first step infact its d ladt we drs ve adopted... hope we get enough money to cntinue our dedicated and selfless job for people.

NASIR | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Rahman, Do you think only coming to street will sort your belly out. I am only suggesting that adopt internal legal and approved channels to negotiate. It is so easy to take law into hand, leave work and start jumping around on street like monkeys, but it is not going bring any healthy trends in the country. Today doctors come to street, tomorrow patients come to streets, and then your mediators come to street, will it solve the problem. I think any success in this manner is actually a sham and loss. Have you ever seen how many students attend the medical classes. Poor show, poor manners and poor attitudes is the start and end in this endevour. Good luck

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

S.Rahman | 13 years ago | Reply @NASIR: And Dr Nasir you are saying that because?? I am living abroad and i think anyone who is living abroad has no right whatsoever to tell the people who are living in Pakistan be "cool-headed". Its chaotic there. I myself is a doctor and have left the country only because I wasn't paid well there. I love my country but I guess this sheer love for country is sometimes not enough to fill you belly.. I fully support this protest..

NASIR | 13 years ago | Reply It is so disappointing to see, that Pakistani nation only knows protests, chaos, confrontation, showdown, effigies and burning tyres to get their message across. Shame on you all including the doctors. Shame on the media which glorifies all such acts going on in the country. It looks like if people dont come to street nothing is right in Pakistan. Where are the cool heads. Dear Drs go back, work on the same salaries, and try human, civilized and recognised methods of negotiations. It may not look easy, but it is the only way a civilized nation must ask for their demands to be met. Media must not cash in on protests. Dr Nasir

yasmeen | 13 years ago | Reply thats really what the young blood of our country do to wake up the corrupt leaders of our country to remind them of our rights.we must now snatch it from their hands.they will not give us any previlage unless we fight for it badly.well done youth

yasir muhammad | 13 years ago | Reply such protests should be well organized,co-ordinated and has to include associations of rest of provinces to be more effective. BLACK SHEEP in all such events shall be dealt harshly. Injustice somewhere is a threat to justice everywhere! WELLDONE N KEEP IT UP.

Replying to X