ISLAMABAD:
Young Doctors Association (YDA) Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) called of their strike on Tuesday. They made the announcement at a joint press conference with Federal Health Secretary Nargis Sethi at Pims, after she assured them that their demands will be met.
However none of the YDA representatives from Polyclinic were present at the press conference, as they decided to continue their strike, saying they will end it only after they get a written approval of their demands from the health ministry.
Sethi said the doctors’ demands were being scrutinised and the government will make a decision in a week. Responding to a question, she said a decision had been taken after negotiations with the young doctors; however, it was too early to disclose the details. She said the demands, including increased wages, new service structure and regularisation of doctors on contracts, will be discussed with the Ministry of Finance.
Dr Sajid Abbasi, President YDA Islamabad, told The Express Tribune, “We have given our demand list to the Ministry of Health, and within a few days they will come up with a proposal in which we will be told about the percentage increase in our salaries.”
The protest started on March 14 when young doctors at Pims put on black armbands. When this symbolic protest yielded no results, the doctors, on March 21, shut down all the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the hospital.
On April 4, the doctors blocked the main road outside the hospital and burnt effigies of federal secretary health and Punjab chief minister.
In contrast, the protest at Polyclinic started a few weeks before the doctors at Pims went on protest. Throughout their struggle, both “factions” did not come together even once to voice their concerns. At various levels a bit of disunity was also seen between both of them. This also led to the confusion over who was the real representative of the young doctors in Islamabad.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Mohammad Ajmal, YDA representative from Polyclinic Hospital said that Pims YDA did not inform them about their meeting with the federal health secretary. “They kept us away from all negotiations,” he said.
“We will only call off the strike when we will see the demands made by YDA Islamabad in written form, we do not believe in verbal assurance,” he added. To this end, doctors from Polyclinic will participate in a march on Wednesday, from Polyclinic to the parade ground.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2011.
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