LAHORE:
The government and the Young Doctors Association (YDA) were no nearer to a resolution to their differences on Sunday, with much depending on the success or failure of the doctors’ planned strike today (Monday). Both sides accused each other of not taking negotiations seriously.
Doctors have been boycotting their duties at outpatient departments (OPDs) in public hospitals in Lahore since Thursday after the Health Department issued transfer orders for 450 medical officers.
The YDA declared the transfers an attempt to weaken the association by dispersing its members and demanded a withdrawal of the orders as well as changes to the service structure for doctors. On Monday, the YDA plans to shut down OPDs in public hospitals across the province.
Khawaja Salman Rafique, the chief minister’s adviser on health issues, said that the YDA did not have the full support of doctors as it did last year when they went on strike for better pay.
“This is an administrative matter,” he said, referring to the transfer orders. “We are ready to make some corrections if mistakes have been made, but there is no justification for shutting OPDs. We are hopeful that many doctors will work to keep the OPDs running.”
Asked what alternate arrangements had been made for patient care during the strike, Rafique said: “There are clear instructions from the Supreme Court that doctors shouldn’t go on strike. They also take an oath not to refuse treatment to patients so they shouldn’t shut down OPDs.”
A senior Health Department official said that YDA officials were refusing to sit down with government representatives to negotiate. “It is highly unethical and inhumane on the part of doctors to go on strike in the whole province and instead of talking to us, just to make demands,” he said. “There is nothing we can do about it.”
Asked what the government would do if the doctors went on strike, he said there was a “second option”. He said he did not want to reveal what this option was, “but it will be harmful for both patients and doctors”.
YDA Punjab spokesman Dr Nasir Bokhari said the government had yet to inform the association that it was ready to consider the doctors’ demands. He said that the biggest concern for doctors was the service structure. “We believe if there were a proper service structure there wouldn’t have been any need to transfer doctors,” he said.
He insisted that the YDA was united and the strike would be successful. “Our representatives and office bearers in all the districts have unanimously agreed to shut down OPDs,” he said. He said that doctors would not work at OPDs, but would examine patients at their hostels and strengthen emergency wards.
YDA Pakistan General Secretary Dr Salman Kazmi said the national chapter supported the provincial chapter’s protest. He said that the service structure for doctors should have been revamped a long time ago. He said such a measure would stop doctors leaving the country for jobs abroad.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2012.
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Feudal lord of the Punjab wishes to run this province like king Akbar ran in his rein.