Strike Called Off: K-P accepts doctors’ demands

PDA called off strike in all public sector hospitals after the government accepted their demands.

PESHAWAR:

The Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) has called off the strike in all public sector hospitals of the province after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government accepted doctors’ demands on Monday.

The decision was taking at a high-level meeting held here at the Chief Minister House on Monday. The meeting discussed doctors’ issues and unanimously agreed to meet all the demands. The provincial government has agreed to increase doctors’ salaries, frame service structure for medical professionals, create a post for Trainee Medical Officers (TMOs) including other demands, Special Health Secretary Dr Noorul Eman told a press conference.

“We will increase doctors’ salaries on the pattern of Punjab and other demands will also be fulfilled within a month,” he added.

PDA President Dr Shahsawar told The Express Tribune: “I am sure the government will not step back from its commitment. They have accepted our demands,” he said.

Earlier, the ongoing junior doctors’ strike in Peshawar landed patients and their attendants into a plethora of problems as attendants took to the streets in protest against the absence of healthcare services. The situation got tense earlier on Monday as dozens of attendants blocked roads in protest against the doctors’ strike and the absence of healthcare services. However, the LRH administration asked them to wait till 11:00 am on Tuesday, after which the protesters peacefully dispersed.

(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MANZOOR ALI IN PESHAWAR)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2011.