Government notification: ‘Doctors’ strike illegal’
The act states that government employees in essential professions like medicine cannot go on a strike.
LAHORE:
The Punjab government on Thursday night issued a notification that said doctors could not go on strike under the Essential Services Act 1958.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique talking to The Express Tribune said the notification had been issued to remind the doctors about their reponsibilities. “The act states that government employees in essential professions like medicine cannot go on a strike. If the doctors don’t call their strike off, the head of the department can file a case against them and the court can award a punishment of up to a year to the employees,” he said.
Rafique said that the government wanted to solve all outstanding issues through negotiations. However, he added, the doctors should not make the patients suffer.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2012.
The Punjab government on Thursday night issued a notification that said doctors could not go on strike under the Essential Services Act 1958.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique talking to The Express Tribune said the notification had been issued to remind the doctors about their reponsibilities. “The act states that government employees in essential professions like medicine cannot go on a strike. If the doctors don’t call their strike off, the head of the department can file a case against them and the court can award a punishment of up to a year to the employees,” he said.
Rafique said that the government wanted to solve all outstanding issues through negotiations. However, he added, the doctors should not make the patients suffer.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2012.