QUETTA:
Doctors in Balochistan continued their province-wide strike at state-run hospitals for the sixth consecutive day on Thursday, demanding pay raise, security and benefits equivalent to those of the doctors in the federal capital.
All Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) remained closed and all scheduled surgeries were cancelled due to the strike. The strike call was given by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan.
The OPDs at each of the four major hospitals in the provincial capital remained closed. Doctors also observed a strike in other parts of the province where work in the hospitals in the district headquarters came to a grinding halt.
President YDA, Balochistan, Abdul Samad Panezai said in a statement issued here that until the government accepts the doctors’ demands, the strike would continue.
The protest by the doctors which has been going on for six days has become a major cause for concern for the locals.
Talking to the media, the provincial health minister said that the government has agreed to fulfill the demands of the doctors. “We held talks with the protesting doctors and acknowledged their demands and termed them legitimate. But the pay raise does not fall within the jurisdiction of the provincial health department,” he said.
He said the government had sought reports regarding the salaries and benefits of doctors from other provinces and was making an effort to get to a solution. “Doctors are also demanding security. But calling a strike is not a solution. If a doctor is kidnapped, it does not mean they let the people suffer.”
However, the young doctors said that they had been protesting for a month but their problems were not being addressed. “We want an assurance from the government in writing, only then will we call off our strike,” they added.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ