Protests: Inflamed YDA gives 24-hour ultimatum
Threatens to take to the streets if PM’s directives are not implemented.
ISLAMABAD:
Members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administration to meet their demands, otherwise they will take to the streets.
Talking to the The Express Tribune here on Tuesday, Pims’ YDA President Dr Sajid Abbasi said that the prime minister has given directives for changes to the services structure of doctors, their regularisation, and pay raises, however, the government has yet to issue a final notification for their implementation. “We are only being given verbal assurances and no concrete steps have been taken.”
He said, “If the notification is not issued within 24 hours, the doctors will take to the streets, block roads, burn tyres and the government and Pims administration will be held responsible for any untoward incident.”
(Read: A strike every day, YDA keeps the doctors away)
A Pims doctor requesting anonymity said, “While the doctors and hospital staffs are protesting, the executive director and other senior officials are comfortably sitting in their offices doing routine work. They are least concerned with our problems.”
“I am more worried about all the patients who are suffering because of this strike, and where they will get their treatment from,” said a gynaecologist, who wished not to be named. “It’s been more than a month, I don’t understand why the hospital administration is not taking this issue seriously,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2011.
Members of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) have given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administration to meet their demands, otherwise they will take to the streets.
Talking to the The Express Tribune here on Tuesday, Pims’ YDA President Dr Sajid Abbasi said that the prime minister has given directives for changes to the services structure of doctors, their regularisation, and pay raises, however, the government has yet to issue a final notification for their implementation. “We are only being given verbal assurances and no concrete steps have been taken.”
He said, “If the notification is not issued within 24 hours, the doctors will take to the streets, block roads, burn tyres and the government and Pims administration will be held responsible for any untoward incident.”
(Read: A strike every day, YDA keeps the doctors away)
A Pims doctor requesting anonymity said, “While the doctors and hospital staffs are protesting, the executive director and other senior officials are comfortably sitting in their offices doing routine work. They are least concerned with our problems.”
“I am more worried about all the patients who are suffering because of this strike, and where they will get their treatment from,” said a gynaecologist, who wished not to be named. “It’s been more than a month, I don’t understand why the hospital administration is not taking this issue seriously,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2011.