Doctors give government 48 hours to raise salaries
Young Doctors Association gives Punjab govt ultimatum to increase salaries of doctors working in allied hospitals.
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 2nd, 2011.
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 2nd, 2011.