The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Young Doctors Association (YDA) has announced a protest strike across the province from next week against the fixed pay rules policy.
They also announced launching an awareness campaign against the government’s policy.
An emergency meeting of the YDA general council was called on Saturday which was headed by its Chairman Dr Sajid Khan.
The problems faced by medics in K-P and the government’s health policies were discussed in depth during the metting.
The doctors criticised the fixed pay policy of the government, saying that it was the first step towards the privatisation of the health sector in the province, which would “never be allowed”.
They said that they would go on a strike against the government’s decision across the province as it would greatly impact the careers of the doctors.
It was decided that a protest would be started in hospitals from next week and no compromise would be made in this regard as the strike would continue till the acceptance of all of their demands.
“Despite the promises and assurances given by the government, the issues of Swat and Abbottabad Category B hospitals have yet to be resolved and we demand that the issues faced by the doctors in these districts be resolved on a priority basis,” they said.
The meeting also demanded a judicial inquiry into the much-publicised Sehat Card programme in K-P, saying that sub-standard medicines were being provided to the patients under this scheme which could endanger their lives.
“There is enough proof of corruption in the Sehat Insaf Card scheme and a judicial inquiry should be conducted to hold accountable those people who are involved in it,” the YDA members claimed.
They also accused the private finance team of the minister of unnecessary interference, such as posting and transfers, in the K-P Health Department.
“Members of the private finance team of the minister are involved in transfers and posting as well as making health policies. These people are paid from various funds and they get Rs900,000 to Rs1.5 million per month salaries,” they added.
“The YDA condemns this practice and it should be stopped forthwith otherwise the YDA will use all options to stop this illegal interference,” they said, adding that those ad hoc doctors who made all kinds of sacrifices during the Covid-19 pandemic have not been made permanent which is unjust.
“The YDA supports the demands of all ad hoc doctors and their struggle,” they said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2022.
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