Doctors’ protest costs patient her life

60-year-old woman dies at hospital as doctors went on strike

LAHORE: A patient breathed her last at the Services Hospital emergency ward on Tuesday as junior doctors went on strike against the action of law enforcement agencies at one of their protests.

The patient, identified as Jannat-ul-Firdous, 60, had been brought to hospital due to a severe pain in the chest. However, since doctors were not available and activity at the ward was suspended, she died while at the emergency ward.



On the other hand, at least seven doctors were arrested and several others suffered injuries when law enforcement agencies used teargas and water cannons during their protest at the Government Officers’ Residence.

The protesters came out in large numbers and were even joined by their peers from Punjab. They participated in the march and sit-in which was announced some days ago after failed negotiations with health department officials on the Central Induction policy. They also demonstrated against the government’s failure to implement the one patient, one attendant policy and demanded the sacking of Secretary for Health Najam Ahmed Shah.

Clad in while coats, the doctors appeared along with a van which was fixed with a blaring sound system. Carrying banners and shouting slogans, the medics tried to enter the GOR colony, which is a highly restricted residence for Punjab’s political elite.

Law enforcement agencies also chalked out a security plan and the bomb disposal squad had also swept the route before the doctors' march. A heavy contingent of antiriot police was deployed in the vicinity.

The law enforcers were armed with water cannons and teargas shells, while barbed wire was placed around the GOR. However, the body language of antiriot police suggested that they were asked to go easy on the demonstrators, while senior police officials were present to persuade the protesting medics not to enter GOR.

A senior doctor, requesting anonymity, said law enforcement agencies and the government did not want to indulge in any conflict with the doctors. “The political climate is not in favour of the provincial government and any mistake by law enforcement agencies could jolt Punjab’s capital.”

However, when the doctors tried to enter GOR and protest, the police used water cannons and teargas. The incident lasted about 15 to 20 minutes.

The doc’s perspective

Following the incident outside GOR, doctors announced they will no longer serve the masses at public sector hospitals across Punjab and decided to close down all emergency wards and OPDs.

However, by the evening, the junior doctors called off their protest during a short press conference. However, no senior YDA member was present during the presser and their mobile phones were also switched off. A YDA official said the practitioners did not expect the aggression from law enforcers against the doctors.

Meanwhile, a Red Workers Front (RWF) member and former office bearer of YDA, Dr Valeed Khan, said it was clear to see that the health sector was not a priority for the government. “The YDA’s leadership should make alliances with workers of other trade unions to achieve their goals.” He added if the agitation was started without the help of other unions, the movement would make little difference.

“Boycotts and protests without a broader perspective will not be able to serve the common interest,” he concluded.

Humayun Faiz Rasool, a lawyer of the Supreme Court, told The Express Tribune that under the West Pakistan Essential Services Act 1971 and the 18th Amendment, any gazetted officer of essential services could not stop working.



“They can neither go on strike nor can they stop working. If they do so, the government can register a case against them,” he pointed out.

“The medical profession also comes under the essential services act and these protesting doctors should have been thrown behind bars for denying treatment to patients and closing down hospitals,” he added.

He said that the YDA, according to this act, was not a union and the doctors were just using pressure tactics by suspending medical services. “Now they intend to boycott OPDs and emergency services. What will happen to the common people?” he asked.

Government response

A health department spokesman, when contacted, said all the doctors’ demands were irrelevant and could not be addressed. “However, we have planned another round of negotiations with them. Let’s see what happens.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2017.