Punjab government to crack down on YDA protesters
A list of 1,000 employees is being prepared and strict action will be taken against them
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The government has decided to crack down on young doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical staff involved in the Young Doctors Association (YDA) strike at public hospitals.
The Punjab Health Department has prepared a list of 1,000 people who will be punished for violating government hospital discipline through strikes and instigating employees to protest.
The YDA launched a province-wide strike against the new Medical Teaching Institutions (MIT) Reform Act earlier this month. Young doctors say they believe the MIT Reform Act is a step towards ending the public status of government hospitals.
OPDs in the provincial capital and other major cities of Punjab remain closed during the strike, making it difficult for patients to access healthcare. All major hospitals in Punjab have been affected due to the continued agitation.
YDA members, BBH staff block Murree Road in protest
The Punjab Health Department reported that the provincial government is greatly perturbed by the shutdown of outdoor patient departments at public hospitals. It is estimated that about 125,000 employees, including young doctors, nurses, paramedics and technical staff of government hospitals across Punjab have united to protest against the MIT Reform Act. It was reported that even senior doctors were unable to handle the situation.
The health department further said that the MTI Reform Act will be implemented at any cost. However, the irresponsible behavior of protesting staff and elements involved in strikes will not be tolerated.
A possible set of options, under the rules and regulations, are being considered to take strict actio against those who violate the discipline of government hospitals.
One of these options is that salaries of young doctors will be deducted for not fulfilling their duties and show cause notices for negligence will also be issued. An official of the Punjab Health Department, requesting anonymity, said that such elements are spreading chaos against the writ of the government. “They should be transferred into remote areas and others should be ‘exiled’ from the province”.
He added a list of 1,000 doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and technicians has been prepared against whom strict action will be taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2019.
The government has decided to crack down on young doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical staff involved in the Young Doctors Association (YDA) strike at public hospitals.
The Punjab Health Department has prepared a list of 1,000 people who will be punished for violating government hospital discipline through strikes and instigating employees to protest.
The YDA launched a province-wide strike against the new Medical Teaching Institutions (MIT) Reform Act earlier this month. Young doctors say they believe the MIT Reform Act is a step towards ending the public status of government hospitals.
OPDs in the provincial capital and other major cities of Punjab remain closed during the strike, making it difficult for patients to access healthcare. All major hospitals in Punjab have been affected due to the continued agitation.
YDA members, BBH staff block Murree Road in protest
The Punjab Health Department reported that the provincial government is greatly perturbed by the shutdown of outdoor patient departments at public hospitals. It is estimated that about 125,000 employees, including young doctors, nurses, paramedics and technical staff of government hospitals across Punjab have united to protest against the MIT Reform Act. It was reported that even senior doctors were unable to handle the situation.
The health department further said that the MTI Reform Act will be implemented at any cost. However, the irresponsible behavior of protesting staff and elements involved in strikes will not be tolerated.
A possible set of options, under the rules and regulations, are being considered to take strict actio against those who violate the discipline of government hospitals.
One of these options is that salaries of young doctors will be deducted for not fulfilling their duties and show cause notices for negligence will also be issued. An official of the Punjab Health Department, requesting anonymity, said that such elements are spreading chaos against the writ of the government. “They should be transferred into remote areas and others should be ‘exiled’ from the province”.
He added a list of 1,000 doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and technicians has been prepared against whom strict action will be taken.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2019.