Young doctors from all over Sindh, including Karachi, protested for the approval of their demands. They protested in hospitals and completely boycotted the OPDs. The patients who came to the hospital faced severe difficulties and later went back without availing any medical facility.
Young doctors in various government hospitals including Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital and Sindh Government Hospital Korangi No. 5 carried banners and chanted slogans in support of their demands.
Protesting doctors said that a complete boycott of OPDs in hospitals would continue till their demands were approved. "We have been on a symbolic protest for the last one week and have completely boycotted the OPDs today," they said. About their demands, the young doctors said that doctors hired on contract basis should be made permanent employees. "Increase salaries and risk allowances of GPs and House Officers. Other demands including deputation policy should be approved immediately," they said.
"If the demands are not met, the operation theaters (OTs) will be closed completely and the CM House will be cordoned off," they warned.
Hyderabad
Meanwhile in Hyderabad, the young doctors association (YDA) began three-day work boycott of outdoor patient departments in the government hospitals in many districts of Sindh in order to press the provincial government to accept their demands. The OPDs in all the major government hospitals in Hyderabad were seen padlocked since Monday morning, causing inexplicable troubles to the patients and their attendants. The YDA Hyderabad chapter's leader, Dr Roshan Chandio complained while talking to the media that the government has not accepted their seven-point charter of demands which they have been pursuing for the last two months. Their central demand is for regularisation through the Sindh Public Service Commission of some 1,200 doctors who were temporarily hired to work during the COVID-19 emergency. They also want the announcement of 500 posts of government dental surgeons.
Read More: Police, young doctors clash in Islamabad
Young nurses arrested, released
Under the Young Nurses Association Sindh, nurses from all over the province, including Karachi, protested at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on the seventh day for the approval of their demands.
Protesters held banners and placards and chanted slogans in support of their demands following which the protesting nurses started marching from the KPC toward the Chief Minister's House to get their demands approved but the security personnel put up barricades on the road and prevented the protesters from moving forward. However, the protesters managed to cross the barriers and reached Arts Council roundabout. Meanwhile, police detained several nurses for trying to enter the red zone, who were later released.
Protesters chanted slogans and marched to the PIDC where police stopped the protesters by putting up barricades. Meanwhile, more contingents of police and water cannons were also called. The protesters sat on the road and chanted slogans in support of their demands.
The protesting nurses said that the health department had asked for time until Friday to solve their issues but, "it is unfortunate to say that the officers of the department are not serious."
Presenting the demands, they said that the four-tier formula should be implemented. "Additional Secretary Health Services should be dismissed. Provide Healthcare Professional Allowance and Health Risk Allowance. Nurses' stipend should be increased from Rs15,000 to Rs30,000. Appoint senior officers to the posts of Deputy Director, Assistant Director, Controller Nursing, Deputy Controller Nursing and Assistant Controller. The nurses working in the coronavirus pandemic should be made permanent employees."
Later, Additional Secretary Dadlo Zahrani and SP Sadar arrived at the protest site to hold talks with the nurses. The additional secretary assured that the demands of the nurses would be met. However, the protesting nurses demanded immediate notification instead of reassurance.
Young Nurses Association President Ejaz Kaliary said that the nurses were tortured. The additional secretary said that it would take two days to issue the notification. The protesting nurses announced to continue the protest till the notification is issued.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2021.
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