BBH young doctors call off strike

Young doctors at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi on Saturday called off their strike and boycott of outpatient departments (OPDs) after the hospital administration withdrew the transfer order of two doctors.

The OPDs of the hospital remained completely shut for four days after junior doctors at the public hospital began a work boycott to demand the cancellation of the transfer of their colleagues and action against the alleged insulting behaviour of the head of the department (MU-I).

The boycott of doctors has left the hospital waiting rooms jammed with patients seeking treatment as people and their children suffering from smog, pneumonia, measles and other infectious diseases flooded OPDs only to see locked doors and doctors away from duty.

Due to the complete closure of OPDs for four days, more than 8,000 patients were deprived of medical treatment. Patients visiting the facility asked the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the issue and intervene to get the OPDs opened.

The young doctors had also accused Dr Lubna, in charge of MU-I of alleged misbehaviour.

Earlier, Principal Allied Hospital Dr Umar transferred two post-graduate doctors Dr Asif and Dr Zia to Holy Family Hospital for protesting against the alleged misbehaviour of Dr Labna

After the transfer of the two doctors, the Young Doctors’ Association started boycotting the OPDs of the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2022.