Punjab doctors’ strike: Amidst gruelling strike, govt seeks army help
Punjab’s Young Doctors Association (YDA) was given 24 hours on Saturday to unconditionally call off its strike, as the provincial government called in 150 army medics to tackle the crisis created by the ongoing medics’ strike in the province.
In a meeting with medical superintendents and principals of state-run medical colleges on Saturday, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif refused to negotiate with the striking doctors.
“Some senior professors sought permission from the chief minister for negotiations with the young doctors, but the latter ruled out the possibility of talks unless the strike was called off,” a participant of the meeting told The Express Tribune.
“The chief minister had a copy of the Essential Services Act 1958 on his table and he was holding a baton in his hand.”
He said Shahbaz reminded each professor how much they earned from private practice and what could be their income if transferred to Attock, Mianwalai, Rajanpur, or any other far-flung district.
“The message was loud and clear: side with the government or face the music,” the participant recalled.
Another participant of the meeting said, “We conveyed to the chief minister that the young doctors would not end their strike unconditionally and may even intensify their protests. The CM, however, said he himself would deal with them.”
Shahbaz, however, conceded to give them 24 hours to speak to the young doctors and resolve the issue.
Army comes to help
Pakistan Army has sent 150 doctors to state-run hospitals at the request of the Punjab government.
“These doctors will perform their duties in uniform and will provide medical consultancy while administration of hospitals will continue to remain the responsibility of the provincial government,” an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement added.
ISPR Regional Public Relation Officer in Lahore Lt Col Shahid Abbas Kirmani confirmed the development to The Express Tribune.
OPDs to start running from Monday
A senior health department official also confirmed that the government has decided not to negotiate with protesting doctors.
“We have made a contingency plan and have arranged some 1,000 doctors to get the Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) running Monday onwards,” he told The Express Tribune.
Asked what their plan was in case the YDA refused to let OPDs function, the official said, “They shouldn’t object to anybody who wants to work. We will have the police deployed at the hospitals to ensure order.”
However, YDA Punjab threatened to withdraw indoor services if the government decided to open OPDs.
After the meeting of its General Council to discuss its future strategy, the YDA decided to not budge on its stance.
“The YDA condemns the Punjab government’s maligning and coward tactics to deprive doctors of their rights through force, and decides unanimously to confront any kind of evil move to oppress any doctor in the province,” said YDA General Council member Dr Mudassir Razaq Khan.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2012.
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If a provincial government can go on strike/rampage and long marches against the federal government just for political reasons, then it is right of the doctors to protest for their demands. Punjab government’s attitude is against the basic workers’ rights, and similar to the shooting of protesting workers in Chicago after which the entire world celebrates the Labor Day. A side note, how the mobs torching and ransacking the public/private property in the name of protests against loadshedding all of a sudden disappeared? Punjab government was neck deep in all those crimes.
What an irony ………… the mighty advertisement tycoon the great punjab govt, the champion of good governance has WON against the Doctors! Nobuddy is going to check himself rather they r depending on false propoganda comapign of the punjab govt, Doctors only call strikes in OPD but not in any other dept. or ward, the emergency units r still working, but hats off to great media compaign of punjab govt ,,,, the truth has lost once again in Pakistan and the mighty FALSE has WON again ,,,,,,,,,,,,, As an Engineer I feel ashamed of myself and my community in Pakistan that v cant stand for our rights and our other fellow professional rights
@Ahmer Ali: All MBBS Doctors are not qualified to treat these patients.
You have to do 1yr of house job , then pass the FCPS exams. To work in some of more specialized fields like neurosurgery, pediatric surgery, orthopedics surgery , cardiothoracic surgery, neurology, gastroenterology ect you have to have 2 years of internal medicine or general surgery training.
These kind of qualified professionals are not available in our system, these YDA doctors know that they are irreplaceable! that's why they are able to go on strike. Its very easy to get into a residency program in Pakistan because of lack of candidates!
If these YDA doctors decide to go on a complete strike ( close emergency department and wards) they man GOD have mercy on the souls of many.
No one wants to work at government hospitals, these YDA doctors only work because they are forced into slavery to get their certificates, the moment they get them they leave for greener pastures ( Europe , Australia , middle east)
@Dr ubaid: First understand and perform the duties then demand Rights. Have you seen these so called Young doctors perform at their place of duties. Please tell how many professionals in Pakistan are getting +50,000/- remuneration. These young doctors have studied at institutes where their expenses have been subsidized by the taxes paid by the people and if they are asked to serve the country for a short period, then they must do it willingly.
Everyone knows what are their rights but noone is bothered by duties. I have no sympathy for the doctors.
I think this strike will go a long way to achieve the basic rights of doctors who burn their blood in serving the poor patients.This strike will be beneficial in the long run as it will stop the brain drain to saudia and america,which will be helpful to our country.WHY AREN"T INDIAN DOCTORS GOING IN LARGE NUMBERS TO SAUDIA? BECAUSE THE INDIAN GOVT. KNOWS THEIR WORTH AND HAS INCREASED THEIR SALARIES AND PERKS AND PRIVILIGES.
ArMy d0ct0rs ? they get a house , a servant they have service strUctUre. all that d0ctors are demanding is serVice strUcture ! it is a j0ke , that instead of giving them structUre, y0u R giVing replacement by means of th0se who are already haVing all extreme facilities and j0b strUcture ! & army is coming like hero :p awam ko raj kay lUtto army+dirty p0liticians !
rights, rights and rights. YDA has no legal and moral justification to do this strike. They should realize that this act is making them increasingly unpopular.
All the protester doctors only must be fired/terminated from their posts and new MBBS qualified doctors must be appointed because in this state of joblessness and unemployment because young doctors are receiving 50000 to 60000 monthly and shamefully now they are on strike.If 50000 to 60000 Rs. salary is less for them then 100000 Rs. are less for them also.Shehbaz Sharif is doing very well and impressive in this regard.Keep it up Shehbaz Sharif.Very well done.I encourage and appreciate you.I salute army's doctors who are assisting and supporting Punjab government in this time of need.Jaza Ku Mullahi Ajran Kaseera army's doctors.
This is called distatorship. Shahbaz Sharif is a civil dictator. Why could not he made a service structure for doctors, whome he had promised since 1.25 years ago.