Young Doctors' Association: Committee agrees 'in principle' to demands

Meeting held between YDA representatives, committee set up by chief minister.

KARACHI:

The first formal meeting between the Young Doctors Association (YDA) and the committee set up by the chief minister was held on Friday.

The YDA was represented by President for YDA Sindh, Dr Abbas Ali Shah, general secretary Dr Zulfiqar and members Mehnaz Jabeen and Ambreen Zaidi, who put forth their demands.

The committee includes provincial ministers for health and finance, Dr Sagheer Ahmed and Murad Ali Shah respectively, vice-chancellor for Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Larkana, Akbar Haider Soomro and Sindh Medical College Principal Dr Prof Umar Farooq.

According to Abbas Shah, the committee agreed to a uniform pay policy in the province, which means that a major grudge — that of Punjab's doctors having a higher salary - would be put to rest.  The YDA president said a notification in this regard will be issued in 15 days. However, officials part of meeting told The Express Tribune that no form of commitment was reached.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official said that the YDA presented nine or 10 demands, of which six have financial implications. These demands include an increase in the allowance for house jobs, incentives for postings in rural areas and overall pay increase at par with Punjab.

Among the non-financial demands are security and safety of medical staff and the appointment of fresh doctors at grade 18 level. Demands with financial ramifications were noted and in-depth research, analysis and calculations of their implication will be presented in a summary to the chief minister, the source said.

Another official part of the proceeding also shared details, also on condition of anonymity. According to this source, the committee agrees in principle with the YDA's demands. "There should be a dignified pay structure for doctors in the country but we need to see if the government is able and willing to accept the financial burden." The committee is scheduled to brainstorm on the 'how and when' the demands can be met in a closed door meeting today (Saturday).

The demands of security will be covered under the regularisation and accreditation of public and private hospitals and clinics already submitted to the law department, the source explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2011.