Pakistan

Doctors on strike in Punjab

Over 2,000 physicians resign, chaos in emergency rooms.

Sher Khan April 02, 2011

LAHORE:

Thousands of doctors across Punjab working at public hospitals resigned from their positions and many others went on strike today after the provincial government failed to meet their demands for better compensation, leaving many hospitals desperately short-staffed and struggling to administer patient care.

The protest action was called by the Young Doctors Association of Punjab, which claims that it has 8,000 members who will be participating in the strike. They have been demanding a minimum monthly salary of Rs90,000 for their members, among other demands, including a regularisation of their employment contracts.

At least 750 doctors resigned in Faisalabad and another 1,500 resigned in Rawalpindi after protesting for a month for an increase in their salaries. YDA officials said that Lahore doctors would be tendering their resignations en masse on Saturday (today).

In Lahore, young doctors withdrew from emergency rooms and claimed they were joined by some of their senior colleagues in solidarity, leaving patients stranded without sufficient medical attention. Lahore Children’s Hospital’s managing director, Doctor Ahsan Waheed Rathore denied that any of the senior doctors had also taken part in the strike.

Negotiations between the government and the YDA broke down on Thursday night after Punjab government refused to make any commitments on meeting their demands. The YDA set a deadline for 2 pm on Friday, after the expiration of which, they began their strike.

“The developments of last night and the lack of action by the government to fix the situation have meant that we have withdrawn our services from the emergency rooms,” said YDA Punjab spokesperson Aftab Ashraf. “We hold the bureaucracy responsible for misleading the government about the status of doctors.”

Chaos at hospitals

Hospitals throughout the province reported severe difficulties and even patient deaths as a result of being desperately short-staffed.

The Lahore Chidren’s Hospital, for example, has eight doctors working in the emergency room compared to 45 on a normal day. A man suffering from tuberculosis in Rawalpindi District Hospital reportedly died on Friday due to a lack of doctors at the hospital.

The closure of emergency wards at public hospitals in Punjab has resulted in severe difficulties for those who cannot afford private hospitals. Long queues of attendants were seen sitting in and outside the hospital gates with their patients’ screaming in pain and waiting for doctors.

“My grandmother is having serious digestive problem since yesterday and her condition is getting worst due to not getting treatment on time,” said Shazia Manzoor at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi.

Mixed reactions

The doctors’ strike has been getting mixed reactions from the public. Some politicians are sympathetic to the conditions under which doctors operate and want to see a compromise reached. Patients associations, however, feel that the doctors are being unreasonable with their demands.

Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, a prominent leader in Punjab’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, said that he would bring up the doctors’ demands at the next provincial cabinet meeting as well as raising the issue with the chief minister. The Patients Welfare Association, however, felt that the doctors were jeopardising patient care. With additional reporting by Shamsul Islam Naz in Faisalabad and Sehrish Wasif in Rawalpindi

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

COMMENTS (43)

Bob | 13 years ago | Reply @Sawan Shah: I think you need to soften your stance a little! I don't think they are demanding this much salary! They are facing the jealousy of those, the bureacrats, whom they have been beating throughout their academic careers. Now they are deciding what the doctors should be, what should they do and how should they do it! Dear your system is based on "Tapism" both red and green. I have a little experience of it.

BST | 13 years ago | Reply @Sawan Shah: that is private sector mr. we are talking abt govt sector where neither the seniors nor the jnrs get anthing........ besides their scarce pay..... open ur eyes................

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Sawan Shah | 13 years ago | Reply The only solution for this problem is “HELATH INSURANCE” Like every developed country. No Patient can pay big amounts to doctors, and no doctor can work in fairly low salaries / charges. There must be a third party to address these issues. Developing country finds a solution for this problem by implementing health insurance. For the current problem I like to share some information with u guys. I worked in an HR department of a reputed private hospital; my duty was to address these issues with doctors, from last 5 years. We all are in health care business know about a reality called “DR. SHARE” NO one here till now even talked about doctors share in “Hospital Charges” “Pathology” “Medicines” be fare, don’t you people know about this SHARE System for consultant doctors ???? I have seen a normal consultant fighting over Rs. 100/- with receptionist, who forget to recount the amount of Rs. 8500/- as an OPD share for one day. In every Private hospital, Consultant Doctors negotiate with hospital administration on charges, if they charge their patient Rs. 3000 as a Room rent, doctor got its share on this amount, and this varies from 1000 ~ 2000. If you ever deal with medical problem, you have seen doctors commenting on the accuracy of the pathology teats from a SPECFIC laboratory. Why is so coz he have an arrangement with lab owner that he will get 30% to 50% share on patient referral. AND ALL THIS INCOME IS BESIDE THEIR SALARY. Junior Doctors knows this entire market situation. Yes there are problems with young doctors but these problems are not created by Govt. or not only lower pay structure. These problems are created for them by their SENIOR doctors as well. They don’t pass any amount of share to their junior doctors. And they created such a duty roaster, which make things worse for junior doctors. When they try to accommodate doctors performing double duties in different hospitals,

SALEEM KHAN | 13 years ago | Reply Again i will request Govt.Of Punjab to see the cause seriously and oblige the young Doctors.they are our future and dont wast there time and provide them the favorable environment that they can help the poor Patients

Dr Ansar | 13 years ago | Reply @Sawan Shah: Brother who told you that only patients die? My three class fellows died because of hepatitis and can you imagine that they were not allowed to have free treatment in the hospital they were working in.. most of all, they were not given proper protection.. and least but not the last, they could have actually facilitated their families.. but none has been done.. Why should we face death without protection.. we have resigned from our posts and we will not work and neither we want to work for Punjab government.. So why are you blaming us now? ask your government to hire more doctors and run their business. We are no more responsible for anything happening in hospitals as we are not allowed to go in. So ask your government to respond.. Another thing, we will love to go behind bars for this cause and we will stand by this. Coz you really dont know the demands and you have actually heard of only pay rise demand.. Go to your nearest protest place and ask them what they actually demand which government is not accepting? Pays were not the main issue for Punjab government as they agreed in first meeting and they still say that they will raise pays.. but now issue is another thing.. go to protest ans ask a doctor..thanks

aafi | 13 years ago | Reply @MS: think before you leap! no one made your mum sick, n no one can bring her health............ be it in ideal circumstances! drs strive hard to save lives, but its just god who can give health, not doctors!

BST | 13 years ago | Reply aoa. i thnk most of da ppl of dis contry r nt aware abt da financial condition of most of da docs who r serving dis thankless nation. som of our colleagues working day n nite in govt hospitals, after gettin top positions all their lives, cannot support their families and r forced to get zakat 4m there colleagues belonging 2 better financial backgrounds. this is not a joke or exageration!!!!!!!!! imagine 4 urself.......... a medical officer gets a pay of 22,000. if he does nt belong 2 a rich family n hav 2 support his old parents n yong kids, how can he make both ends meet!!!!!! house rents, electricity n gas bills, medicins 4 parents, school fees, clothing n pampers and da list of expenses goes on and on....... a doctor cant even buy a car on his own. even if his parents somhow manag 2 giv it 2 him, petrol or cng is out of his pocket. even taxi n rikshaw r unaffordable. i hav seen our consultants comin on public transports n askin 4 lifts on motorcycles. dont u thnk dat if politicians n beurocrats of this contry, after studying less than half of us, enjoy da luxuries of many houses n cars, dnt v deserv atleast 2 hav a respectable earning n living????????????

BST | 13 years ago | Reply hamid butt, the president of yda was terminated today by our auspicius leaders just a few hours b4 da blasts at dg khan but when da need arose, he immediatly called off da strike in dg khan n multan 2 save da injured, instead of makin it an issue of ego or revenge. hats off 2 hamid butt n doctors of this nation who r not murderers and r sincere wid their profession and nation. v hope dat ppl of dis country still hav sm sense of judgement left n they can decide dat who is playing with innocent lives, DOCTORS OR DA SELFISH POLITICIANS.

rahela | 13 years ago | Reply I fully agree with young doctors that Punjab burocracy is responsible for this crisis. Especially secretary health fawad ibne fawad is main character beyond this strike. At one stage political leader ship and young doctors were agreed on certain points but due to high headedness of SH young doctors again announced strike, If government want to end strike, Mr, Fawad should be replaced with some wise guy.

anon | 13 years ago | Reply @Tooba Mahmud: this is nt a forum to discuss differences between govt n private med colleges it is a place where the image of dr n right of DR is to be protected and talked of...... get above all things to STAND AS A DOCTOR

Salman Orangiwala | 13 years ago | Reply @MS Wholly agree to your cause . I have the same horrific tales to tell regarding these " internee " student doctors in a Karachi hospital . These so called dotors must be interviewed by a panel of internationally recognized body of Professors before giving them " licenece to practice " . Else they would be aremd with he "licenece to kill " and would be butchering innocent people , practice thier skills on victims in hospitals and one fine morning will fly away to the west after consuming the tax payers hard money provided subsidized education . I am with you , lets put our efforts together to get rid off these "menaces " for the sake of our future generations ..

Hafsa | 13 years ago | Reply First of all, 90, 000 wasn't the demand for everyone straight out of medical colleges. The demand was for an increase in pay according to international standards. Forget England, USA, Australia; a Medical Officer in Bangaladesh is getting 70,000 as salary! Forget the demands. Doctors agreed to decreasing their demands by half to reach a feasible solution. But the government claimed that they have the money to increase pays of House officers and Medical Officers, but not consultants who have passed exams and hold degrees. Is that fair? How can we accept that we as juniors get equal or more salary than our seniors? That is not only unfair, but can be challenged in court. It is easy to blame doctors for deaths of your loved ones. How about the ones that are saved through them? I know for a fact, that the percentage surviving is far more than the ones not. But then, it is considered the JOB of a doctor to save people's lives. Not to do his best to save it, but to save it. We're an emotional nation and we don't look out for each other. Which is why we are suffering. Doctors were forced to close down Emergency Depts. when the government refused to initiate dialogue after a month of peaceful demonstration. Just like people from every walk of life, doctors eat, breathe and function. They have the right to ask for their rights. This isn't just philanthropy; it is our bread and butter. Open your eyes. It's not doctors who are looting and polluting, it's the dirty politicians of the country who have the money to spend months in luxury hotels all over the world while forcing doctors to work 3 shifts in 3 hospitals to make ends meet. We aren't your enemies. It's them.

ilyas khan | 13 years ago | Reply @MS: Sorry about your mother. But Pakistani doctors from Punjab government medical colleges are upto internationa standard and do well in open competition here in UK. But 90,000 monthly salary is impractical in the government pay structure. They should train, learn, and leave...

Dr.Nasir Ali | 13 years ago | Reply I'm a doctor working in the UK and most of my friends are either here or in the US. There is no doubt that Pakistani and Indian doctors are best in the world and I can understand the reason for their demands. However, I do not strictly believe in abandoning seriously unwell patients but at the same time, the legitimate demands of these doctors should be met. Unfortunately, as a nation we only understand the language of strikes and demands, and these doctors are forced to use the same language our government officials understand. I think these doctors should neither abandon the patients (as patients' health and safety comes first) nor their demands.

Tooba Mahmud | 13 years ago | Reply @MS: I am a graduate of Lahore Medical College. I was the best graduate of my college , had 12 medals, 7 distinctions and university positions in three professional exams. Passed all my exams including F.C.P.S in surgery and M.R.C.S (England) with flying colours. I competed with graduates from all the best of the best medical colleges from all over Pakistan including KE, Aga Khan etc and excelled. I am into the system for the last 5 yrs and have seen its not the medical college but the personal effort and hard work that makes the difference. Surgimed hospital is not recognized for house job and the docors you saw must be 3rd yr students. we start calling our students 'doctor' as soon as they enter in 1st yr. I teach Kemcollians at KE and yet want to see some brilliant Kemcollian far better than a brilliant Lamcian. As far as pays are concerned i have mentioned my qualification and pay i am getting is shamelessly low. I Have been getting 18000 per month till nov 2010, followed by 25000 in dec , 13000 for feb 2011 and not a penny since then despite of my repeated efforts. This is how you treat a specialist in your country. I do a 36 hrs v.busy duty twice a week, when i usually operate the whole night. 2 operation days of atleast 8 to 10 hrs and 2 outpatient days. I get only 2 sundays off in a month. For the last 5 yrs i havent spent a single eid with my family, no public holiday is a holiday for us. we are usually on duty on all public holidays. We surgeons practically struggle and strive hard and hard for this thankless nation and still God knows why we are addicted to our work!

dr.zaheer | 13 years ago | Reply @MS: u never mentioned the disese ur mother was suffering from so we can chk why thy were having thz mistakes and regarding test dont forget our degrees and certificates are internatuonaly recongnized..and even the royal college accepted our degrees.and gulf countries are urging for pak docs..

Abdullah Saleem | 13 years ago | Reply It's a profession which is in 8 out of top 20 jobs, but in Pakistan police constables are getting more than a M.B.B.S doctor (someone who is considered to be 'illiterate' in Pakistan)

Abdullah Saleem | 13 years ago | Reply You guys are just making fun of doctors demand. I know how much difficult it is to live with doctors, even of senior rank who don't have private clinics. My father couldn't even pay my Gov. college fee, not private, last year one who is qualified from Royal Colleges of UK & Ireland.

Waqar Jeelani | 13 years ago | Reply I am a doctor. If I can save one's life I shall never let my parents die. Wake up people. Death is law of nature not a fault of doctor.

Waqar Jeelani | 13 years ago | Reply I am a doctor. I am the best Graduate of NUST, did strive hard through many years of extensive studies and clinical duties. Studied 20hrs a day, spent countless sleepless nights and I topped every year and got more that 14 gold medals. And Now, WHEN I AM A DOCTOR MY SALARY IS LESS THAN THAT OF A CONSTABLE OF ISLAMABAD POLICE. I have to do continuous 36 hrs duty 3 times a week in addition to normal 8am to 2pm timings. And I am the only Graduate of my class who is currently getting something called a salary. My all other class fellows are working in hospitals without any pay. Some have to do private coaching in evening hours to earn enough to pay the expenditures of travel. 99% of us do their best and take decision to best of their knowledge to relieve the pain of their patients. When it comes to our rights why everyone gets silent?

Hassan Khalil | 13 years ago | Reply @MS If you are so competent and knowledgeable so as to know that your mother was being prescribed wrong medicines,then why did you take her to the hospital at all? If you know more than the doctors,you could have treated her at home and saved all the trouble,and the money as well. And secondly,will you plz define a "wrong injection"? You should know that none of the injections commonly used in hospital emergencies cause death of a patient,even if wrongly administered. As for the private colleges,it is the duty of the government to regulate their performance,and penalize/ban them if they are not upto the mark.

ovais | 13 years ago | Reply @S Minhaj Zafer: its govt duty to provide education to all citizens. and there is a competition for govt medical cllege admision so we performed well in this competition and truly deserve to be doctors. as far as 90000 is concernd govt can afford Rs250000 +bonus to illetrate pakistani crickters whom u people think are ur herosand pay them Rs500000 even after loosing the match and no one complains so why they cannt pay 900000 to most educated class of this country. its a shame education is not a standard of pay and respect rather gangsters and illetrates are respected more and are allowed by nation to rob them. as far as our competency is concerned thousands of doctors pass international exams and go abroad each year so no doubt pakistani doctors are competent enough to work in any country

ovais | 13 years ago | Reply @MS: we doctors withdraw our services from hospitals so accourding to u it should be a better place so why u r protesting against our strike. u people chose currupt leaders to rob u and kill u and no one speakes a single word and a doctor who works 24 or even more hours consecutive duties doesnt get a pay above a constable what kind of justice is this.and regarding to competency of doctors i ll like to inform u that pakistani doctors are most wanted all over the world dont believe me? go and chek lists of doctors who have been selected in other countries. more than 3000 in just one year. we were protesting for one month but no one even bothered to listen now we r forced to withdraw our services and nw everyone is crying. u wanna arrest us go ahead who ll be treating u people ? oh i knw wardboys right? think before u speak mr who couldnt get enough marks to have admission in medical college.

BST | 13 years ago | Reply salaam to all those who r living in a foools paradise..... let alone 90000 govt is not ready to pay 40000 to the highly learned and most intelligent lot of the country....... it is we who go abroad n pass all exams and not their own graduates.... it is we who become one of them u r naming as drs from abroad...after getting sick of admiration without being paid in ths country........... and getting 18000 for 168 continuous hrs, apart from duties althrough the month.... as far as paying 7 lac is concerned, u shud v gone to a govt hospital instead of moaning over the lost money...these r free ............ u r paying the least to the cream of the nation.... and death is law of nature....... not all peopl get the desired cure...........as God has HIs plans as well.............its nt always drs' fault........ kindly dont be biased against us....... we r no gods.... we r humans.... we need basic facilities of life......... WE DONT RUN ON AIR ONLY............. WORDS AND CHATTER BOXES CANNOT FILL EMPTY STOMACHS

tayyaba mehmood | 13 years ago | Reply all of u,,who are reading this,,we being doctors and human are not happy with this strike,but when u have to run ur family,,to serve their parents and children,,and to support their younger brothers n sisters,blv me,we feel sorry for them too.its just like the same situation,,when a dying patient look at doctor with a hope of life,,and to say polite words to the attends,,u cant imagine,,what we doctors feel. in some situations,,dying person and hopeful attendents looking at u,,n u feel that,,,,,,,,,,kash u can do sth for that patient,,so the life can be bestowed by ALLAH to him, we are not god,we are humans,,,those humans who eat,,love,share,and feel,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,those humans who have family,parents and children. how we can serve free of mind u people,,when we have social issues of our family on our nerves,,,,make us free from all of our social and economical problems,,get our petrol for us free,,get schooling of our children free,,medical bill of our family free,,give us proper security,,assure us,,then we are ready to servive and serve u just in 18000-20000/ we will not demand u more

Sadaf Gill | 13 years ago | Reply Regardless of any and every thing ... the doctors despite being on strike should have continued to run the emergency sections of hospitals ... people become doctors to act in the best interest of patients ... and such an attitue should not be tolerated where they have abandoned the patients to die !! Its a shame !!

MS | 13 years ago | Reply @ Abdullah: I would like to get you interviewed by an American based Pakistani doctor to see if you are worth rs 90,000 or to be even allowed to work in a hospital! If you think that you guys are doing an amazing job and getting under paid..well the doors are wide open to leave this country like most Pakistanis. I have experienced the incompetence of doctors like you and fighting to get you all black listed for life. You guys almost costed me my mother and I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that incompetent doctors are not allowed to kill our loved ones.

SALEEM | 13 years ago | Reply Govt.should seriously look into the matter , there should be be a solid solution and must take the doctors in confidence as they are the cream of society. Please immediately solve the the issue as ultimately patients and poor peoples are effected.

Khalid Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @Sawan Shah: I think u people belong to elite class so can afford treatment abroad or in private.Pakistan government is spending only .5% of Total GDP. What type of health facilities can be given in this budget. If you think in this way then you pakis deserve such type of treatment in hospitasl.At First Punjab government agreed with the demands of doctors then it stepped down, Shame on Government of punjab and pakistan who do not spend money on health and what about the people who deserve such type of government.

S Minhaj Zafer | 13 years ago | Reply Dear Dr@Abdullah From ur writing of the emotional kind, I reckon u as Govt Medical college Graduate. Please first pay the Rs 1.5 million, for the tuitionn fee of medical college, then demand Rs 90,000/ per month.

MS | 13 years ago | Reply @sadikbege: Have you been to an hospital lately?? To the hospitals where these doctors work?? Well just pay them a visit and see their incompetence when they kill innocent people by giving wrong injections.

MS | 13 years ago | Reply I was once in Surgimed hospital emergency for 3 hours as my mother was being treated for food poisoning. 5 female doctors!!! from Lahore medical college came to ask the senior duty doctor if they can assist & learn. The senior doctor decide to test their knowledge and to his(and my) horror the girls failed to answer any question correctly. They were asked about the steps to be performed if someone is suffering from heart attack and they failed! They were not aware of the blood flow to an important organ!! These girls have started their house job at above mentioned hospital. This country has produced some of the best doctors in the world but now the private medical colleges are producing killers. The punjab government should say that fine..we will increase your pay if you pass an international medical test.

sadikbege | 13 years ago | Reply a complete shutter down strike across all cities for a week will teach this government a good lesson

Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply "Doctors who deal with the most difficult of patients, such as patients who cannot communicate, who cannot act in their own best interests, who live in hopeless poverty, the homeless, and those who stubbornly resist taking responsibility for prevention have the patience of doctors when it comes to their desire to successfully treat and lead their patients to good, or at least better, health." and this in itself deserves better pay structure and respects then you are willing to give

Abdullah | 13 years ago | Reply To everyone who thinks we are unjustified in continuing our protest: In case you missed the Ads in almost all the major newspapers, flyers, posters and the demand charter of YDA from the day one, the demand was a pay rise and a proper job structure for every doctor, from House Officer up to Professor.So, either you are ignorant of the actual situation and press conferences of YDA or may be you are just too biased against the cause"

MS | 13 years ago | Reply My mother was admitted for 15 days in a hospital and we suffered immensely because of doctors incompetence. I can share atleast 45 serious blunders committed by the junior doctors especially from the private medical colleges...example of blunders 1) Forgot to put NG tube for 10 hours when my mother was in ICU. 2) Wrong medicine when she was suffering from diarrhea..the wrong medicine made her condition worse. 3 junior docotrs came and did not notice the wrong medicine being given. 3) told my mother she can have emon water when she had 20% of her intestines removed!! They are killing patients left and right so they don't deserve to be working let alone a pay rise. All these doctors on strike should be made to give an international level of medical test and I am sure that 99% will fail. Those who pass should be paid accoridng to their marks and competence just like in any other profession. Let these doctors go on strike because trust me when they are on job..they are not saving a single life!! They think that the world will come to a stop if they don;t work..well i am sure the world will be a better place with you guys not in the hospital. We paid 7 lakhs for our 15 day stay and my mother has still not recovered bc of doctors blunder. I am going to start a campaign against these doctors soon and urge people to stand up.

Imran | 13 years ago | Reply Junior Army doctor gets 50,000, and a house officer just 18,000, with no benefits.

Sawan Shah | 13 years ago | Reply We can not allow any cartel to kill people with their will.... Above all, They are employees of Punjab Govt. they have signed the contact. with reference to which law they can act like this.? We all fought for justice. we should support justice. I am not saying that they are not under paid.. But they way they chose to protest is KILLING innocent people. Which is not acceptable. Labor courts are open labor laws are in place. they can go in courts and can fight for their rights.

Muhammad Saleem | 13 years ago | Reply I read the above comments, i know very well that they are true but one thing is that is our country is in a position to pay huge salery to all other organizations.We all are selfish and want to improve only one's condition. above all we must take some bold steps against govt to run honestly for the betterment of the people of pakistan.

M.Aslam | 13 years ago | Reply I agree with sawan shah, but government should not delay this anymore, they have already waisted too much time. Why is govt. careless on this issue.

Sawan Shah | 13 years ago | Reply Rs. 90,000 /- + Benefits ... are these guys are in their senses ???? Yes one cannot survive in with corruption and prices, but even than think of other government scales, they are living in same conditions. I second Govt. Stand ... Well Done ! I would like to see the Young Doctors Leaders behind bar charged for the arrangement for killing these reported dead patients

shahid | 13 years ago | Reply

 we all strive very hard to make our children doctors.our top most students become doctors.rest of the students join other professions.Doctors are the most highly paid job in the world.i feel our top most students are not being treated fairly by our incompetent politicians.they deserve a little more respect.politics is all about negotiations and making compromises.punjab chief minister must start to learn some real politics now.stop acting like a army general.

rehman | 13 years ago | Reply if the govt really cares about people and health care and its talented people, we shall see its tre face

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