Young doctors call off strike, go back to OPDs

PIMS YDA calls off their 37-day strike after a presidential ordinance.

ISLAMABAD:

Doctors at Pims are back on duty. The Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) formally called of their 37-day strike and resumed all medical services in the outpatient departments (OPDs).

The decision was taken by the YDA central executive committee after a presidential ordinance for doctors and paramedical staff was announced on Wednesday. The ordinance addresses the issues of service structure, regularisation of contracts and salaries and will come into effect from July 2011.

President Young Doctors Association Islamabad Chapter Dr Sajid Abbasi said YDA welcomes the Career Structure for Health Personnel ordinance; he said it was a good sign that the new career structure has been prepared in consultation with all stakeholders and on the basis of consensus of the medical community.

The new legislation includes all health personnel serving in federal institutions and related organisations, however it will be optional for existing employees. All fresh appointments will be made under the scheme, and every health officer will be required to exercise an irrevocable option: either to continue the present pay and service structure, or to opt for the new scheme within a period of thirty days from the date of promulgation of the ordinance (August 24).

YDA first went on strike on March 20. They called off their strike on April 6 after the prime minister announced a new service structure for them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2011.