To the rescue: Army Medical Corps doctors deployed at Punjab hospitals
Doctors took charge at Mayo, Jinnah hospitals in Lahore, outdoor wards of Nishtar Hospital in Multan and Civil Hospital in Gujranwala.
Meanwhile, young female doctors in Rawalpindi resumed their duties. Outdoor wards in Rahim Yar Khan were also reopened.
A contingent of police was deployed in case of a possible protest.
According to a spokesperson of the Punjab government, senior doctors are fulfilling duties in place of young doctors.
The Punjab government had decided to appoint 1,000 medical officers.
The Government of Punjab requested the Army to deploy more doctors.
The Pakistan Army announced that free treatment will be offered to people at military hospitals and that doctors will work in two shifts to treat them.
Police doctors deputed
The Punjab government has also requested the Police department to depute their doctors to hospitals in Lahore to compensate for the doctors on strike.
Doctors from the police department have been deputed to six hospitals in Lahore.
YDA president arrested
Punjab police barged into the Services hospital where the Young Doctor’s general council meeting was taking place. President of YDA Hamid Butt, Chief of YDA Amir Bandesha and four doctors were arrested.
Action had been taken after the deadline given to the young doctors by the Punjab government ended and negotiations with senior doctors ended without any results.
Six SPs led heavy contingents of police to contain the perimeter of the Services hospital.
Many doctors were also arrested during the search operation at the young doctor’s hostels.
The four doctors of YDA were given four days physical remand for committing criminal negligence of removing drip of an infant to join a YDA protest resulting in the death of the child.
The police officials had produced the doctors before a magistrate’s court seeking eight-day physical remand on a plea to arrest the doctors and record their statements. However, the judge granted them four days physical remand directing the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case to produce the doctors before the court on July 6.
COMMENTS (102)
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The ruthless action of the punjab govt against young doctors reminds us of similar action by martial govt of Gilani during Gen Zia's regime in mid eighties against medical students of punjab during MRD movement.The whole situation has been mismanaged by the punjab govt beaurocrats of khadim-e-aala Shahbaz Sharif .hey have made a mountain out of a mole hill.they had to call in the army for damage control.Hats of to AMC doctors to work in this environment.they are putting in their best inspite of all odds.Pak army has always faced shortage of doctors but has responded well to this nation's call for duty.now we should go for table talks with YDA instead of harrasing them.listen to them with an open mind and solve their grieviences after all they are the sons and daughters of pakistan. Momee.
@M. I. Aslam: Yes, army docs are better paid, they have better houses, better pension better facilities like transport and better working conditions, when they retire they all get a house for free. Stop complaining on behalf of the army, civilan governments need to be able to negotiate with its servicemen, not cry for help from the army.
@Umer: I think that then why not hand over complete Pakistan to them as they are paid heavily i don't know from where as you and me don't pay our taxes properly and duly. Or we should thank US for our pay of the Army. people like you are the reason for non ending conflicts, instead of saying thank you fo rhandling a job well you are antagonizing the Army just for your satisfaction. Try to build nation which is in tatters and not to raise storm in tea cup.
So Pakistan need Army to Govern!!!
pak army deployed in hospitals....one small step towards martial law... shame on punjab govt instead of solving problem CM has called army for help. i wonder what happens to political govt if people ask help from army to get rid of these corrupt politicians....... beware CM if uniformed dr can take over the hospitals ,they can kick you out from this country in just fraction of second.
Way to go to destroy the lives of any one who stand for their rights. This is no way to address the issues. CM needs to show some vision. Why to insist on unfare working conditions? Doctors should not be on the same pay year after year. Even government drivers and peons have structured salaries, why not doctors?
In the end government will find needy people to fill in some of the empty spots, but it will miserably fail to give a work environment that will attract talent or make these young professionals flourish. It is kind of enforced slavery. All the deserving physicians who got the spots based on their hard work will be expelled and replaced with less able doctors. Can anyone think of improvement in patient care if this approach continues? Patient's will continue to suffer due to shortage of doctors and also due to hiring of less competent doctors. Who looses in the end --- the public and the young doctors of the country.
What a vision by our leaders. Sad indeed.
Bias posting of anti YDA cmments
I took my mother once to CMH Lahore, and the Army made us wait for 20 minutes saying that the Doctor is busy inside with a patient, when I entered his room he was lying on a stra\ture and having rest while my mother was sitting on stoll in bad condition, so a doctor on duty from Pak army was justfying his perks .... black fishes every where folks not just in 'bl**dy civilaians' but also among 'Pak Army'
@Moise: Your mindset shows why we need to change the entrance criteria for medical schools in Pakistan. Don't go into medicine if you will later lament the time you spent studying. In North America locals go into a profession including medicine because they love it and don't cry about studying why others are playing. For them studying medicine is itself a sort of amusement. We need to teach people what is expected of them in a profession and they should choose medicine as a profession for the right reasons- especially since the government is subsidizing their studies and their ability to be part of a noble profession.
Those doctors who want to make money should resign and open up their expensive clinics. It would clear the way for the "real young doctors" to step in to the profession.
@Umer:
Kindly give me your brother's name... I would love to know how he got the Bahria plot? All army officer pay for this plot. Joining army is our family tradition. And no one speaks about there brother like this. Yes! You might be jealous of your brother in law.
Labour unions and workers' associations are a nightmare to military junta, industrialists and anti-people governments. This is one of the reason why military dictators in this country (4 dictators ruled directly for 33 years in all, while ruling from behind the scene is still going on) banned all the workers' associations in the first place. Consequently, we could not develop democratic workers' unions. Now, industrialist CM of Punjab and Military Inc. are united against for the same mutual cause of suppressing young doctors for demanding their rights. Nothing strange in this case. Our history is full of such shameful acts both by industrialists and military Inc., particularly during Zia regime.
As far as patients interest is concerned, I believe YDA should have devised a patient friendly strike strategy to minimize damage to patients. YDA should have taken people into confidence about their demands and the strike very clearly to gain their moral support. Furthermore, they could have negotiated with political parties over this strategy to gain their support as well.
just wondering if the YDA doctors are given the same packages/aminities as the army doctors .. well ask a young army doctor with 2-3 yrs or service...n with a grade 17.. what all perks..does he enjoys.. my czn is a young army doctor n i exactly know what all !!! so please don't mislead the ppl.. .. n plz don't demoralize by saying tax payer money... bcoz tax money can't buy that courage which is required to face those hardships which Army faces.. its ofcourse very easy for me n you to say n write such stuff sitting in our cozy rooms.. !! but we can't face bullets coming our way..
To all the YDA fangirls: ESSENTIAL SERVICES CAN NOT GO ON STRIKE!
To all the ARMY fangirls: Army's job is to serve the nation NOT run it.
That is all.
Martial Law in health sector of Punjab?
just wondering if the YDA doctors are given the same packages/aminities as the army doctors
medical martial law :)
@Baba Ji:
Flood and earthquakes, a lot of it was US forces with Chinook helicopters and millions of dollars of aid who helped us there. Then there was the rest of the world who came to help us while making all expense of their own costing us nothing! Then numerous of the local folks who came leaving behind their jobs and education and worked out of their own pocket for victims of earthquake and flood. If Army did anything they were well paid for it and most of the time Army stays in cantonment not doing much so if they earned their living for a change what is the big deal there?
Civil unrest, who creates civil unrest in the first place? Who sponsors the like of JI and Difa-e-Pakistan? A hint to the wise.
Roads? Motorways were built by Daewoo company and a Turkish firm. What has Army got to do with it?
NLC? The main contractor of the recently collapsed bridge in Lahore is NLC. Also ever heard of the NLC scandal involving billions of rupees?
Property, who wouldn’t? It’s such a lucrative business.
Stop presenting it as if the very well paid Army is doing the poor people who pay its wages any favours.
@Zeta:
Their perks are much better than an average civilian Pakistani while doing very little, so how are they equivalent to rest of us? Also Army is doing no favour. The tough job army doctors are doing now with excellent perks, civilians do every day for meagre salary. It’s such civilian doctors and other public servants who deserve our respect.
At the end of the day, Its always Army which comes to the rescue to clean up the mess created by lovely civilians. Some of the enlightened lib-extremist civilians seems to forget that Army Doctors and others are Pakistanis too, they aren't foreign people hired and being paid by our tax money.
u should all be ashamed of yourselves for defending an illiterate government against professionals!
Khadem e Aala has no political wisdom, he is some kind of dictator or bureaucrate. He never listens political forces and other sects of society but just bureaucracy, that's why he remains fail to handle the issues.
Army Doctors are taking care of poor sick people in Punjab. Thanks to Democracy, you have called army again to help you!
Most of the YDA are thugs and blackmailers. Their degrees should be scrapped. We want our tax money back.
@Mazen: Well I am not a big fan of doctors since my father and son died due to doctors' negligence on separate instances, but truth is truth, no matter where it comes from. Most of them studied, work hard and their pay is low, unsafe work environment, they want more doctors per head. Aren't six figure salary employees asking similar things in their cushy jobs?
@Ali zafar rao: Please don't think that anyone is talking against the military. This is not about the military at all, it's about the "service structure" of the doctors.
I feel like its popular culture to talk against military .. Most of you talking here wouldnot even make it through ISSB or PMA and you crib against the military... They live and serve in all God forsaken places from Siachen to Balochistan and FATA to Thar They deserve our respect as they are our Army and our brothers taking bullets
Go Pak Army
shame to treat doctors like Animals,they are young inexperienced and vulnerable Treat them with respect and dignity, drs strike all over,recently drs went on strike in England chief minister of Pakistan is wrong to get army involved and how long can these mostly inexperience Army doctor do a job of different kind. All doctors are good people . most educated and intellectuals ,don't treat them like enemies
Nice propaganda campaign... Photo ops.. and that's it! End of story.
From a doctor: My crime ! I studied hard while others were playing in school. I studied hard while others were enjoying college days.
I competed 20,000 in entrance exam and got selected on merit. I studied the most tough education syllabus in world for 5 years and became a doctor.
I work more than 90 hours to serve the diseased even at 3 am in the night while their relatives are sleeping peacefully.
I go sleepless for days just to help the needy even on sundays, eid, christmas, summers and winters nonstop.
I don't care how my family is doing at home, all i care is how my patients are doing in the ward. I am the one you wish your son would be and the one you wish your daughter would marry.
I only demanded a better system for my profession, and i'm straight away called a criminal and killer. I'm being arrested and violated by media.
Yes i am the most educated and civilized criminal who only demands a system in this unlawful state. YES I AM A DOCTOR!
@Atif Yousufzai: This is what is needed.The Punjab government should not give in to these thankless blackmailing young doctors. Frankly these doctors should be stripped of their licences and made to repay the cost of their medical education.
Governament should not Subsidize medical education any more and if any one want then should sign affidavit for service at governament hospitals. They accepted the job with knowledge of terms and conditions, then why all this? Their right to deman for betterment is not denied but all these activities are against their profession. Thanks for Pak military and shahbaz sharif for refusing to givin in any more and put control on it. Thanks to both of them.
@ haider ... i agree man, n i believe that if it all we have to increase the pays of any government servant.. it should be teachers... but strange the education has not ruined them , the way YDA .. is... im a doctor too..n i exactly know how patients were seen in government hospitals.. so have a heart my brothers..
Love u Pak Army ------------ God Bless U
There is something fundamentally wrong with our Establishment.Why cannot our rulers in Punjab cut some of their expenses and give decent salaries to young doctors.No wonders these doctors and other professionals are running away from Pakistan.
@Usman:
You just make up stuff as you along. Also it’s not correct that Army personnel are paid much higher than the civilians everywhere in the world. In developed world generally Army has a tough time attracting recruits. This can’t happen if pays are exceptionally great and if similar money cannot be made easily elsewhere.
Sorry for the spelling mistakes in my earlier comments :)
@Umer: The salaries of civilian govt. doctors are also paid by the poor civilians and when they go for training, that also, is paid by the same poor people of Pakistan. The foreign training is not for Army only!
@Abdullah: Lodge your request officially. All main political parties are in alliance and calling for actions against whom!
@Umer: You talk about half the perks, I have many friends who were selected for Pakistan Army but didn't join and when you ask them the reason, its as simple as "we can't sign a bond and live without families". I know many who even completed their training but didn't continue (and paid back) because were posted to hard areas or field ambulances .... I don't know how your brother avoided going to hard areas, but I am 100% sure and know personally they need to to do that (not gonna tell how I know) ... Tell me, if you brother had his "official passport" with him?? ... Could he have applied for the posts in middle east? ... was he allowed to do private practice?? ... and the only land the get is through the housing scheme if your brother have got a Bungalow in Bahria Town he must have bought it from his "high salary" .. and mind it, theri salries are not high (are rather lower, I invite you to do proper research) than the civilian doctors ... the only advantage the get is from entitlement to batman, medical (available to civilian govt. doctors as well), hiring (available to civilian govt. doctors as well), discount in Army public schools and entitlement for Housing scheme ....
PS: For you kind information, Army personnels are paid much higher than the civilians every where in the world.
150 military doctors to replace thousands of young doctors huh. the pak army is already having doctors from civilians on adhoc bases will they be able to counter that
This news piece just reminds me that Pakistan does NOT need doctors, it only needs soliders! You will see alot more doctors going to other countries, they are some of the most motivated and intelligent citizens, it's a shame that the punjab government is playing a dirty propoganda game with them. I am not in favor of strikes by the doctors but tell me what other way of protest is left in this country? Should the YDA start burning petrol pumps and buses?
They got tired and went back to their palaces.They cant handle patients in so many numbers for so many long.
Another coup by the bahadur afwaaj ! None of the demands of YDA are excessive. Don't go on the propaganda by TV media thugs.
It is very laudable that the Army has enough Doctors that it can help the civil population (people) in case of need.
Why the Government of Pakistan does not have the same capacity?
It is the Responsibility of the Government (of the people) to take care of the people and not the Responsibility of the Army.
Is the Islamic Democracy, an absence of Democracy, where the Government is not (of, for, by) the people???
Yaay for Pak Army. xD
Give civilians doctors same service structure as the AMC and there will never be a strike. And I am talking about the Serving Military officer not the hapless civilians who do all the work in CMH with no future. Ps Army docs are strutting around in front of the camera and are only running the OPD (that too probably terribly) what a joke.
@Aristo: Anyone who says yes to call of duty seems to be farigh for you. nonsense.
Most comments show how simple minded individuals who read bad one sided unanalysed news can be influenced. Get educated....there are many facets.....
I want to give more political statement here.. " According to Musharraf, No one can harm Pakistan or it's people till we have the Army".... Proven.
To name a few perks: Army officers' wards get to study for almost zilch at APS. Free accommodation in the city they are stationed in. Allowed to practice privately in the evening in MH in Rawalpindi. Also enjoy perks given to high ranking military officials.
Provide all this to civilian doctors and I'm sure there won't be any issue.
I know just one thing that my army is there on the peak of Siachen protecting us, My army is there fighting for us in FATA and now my army is saving lives in Punjab and right now these saving lives for me are more important than trillions of money we spend on them I love my country, I love my army, if you have a problem with army then go on the border fight like those brave men or go volunteer for these patients.
@ Remu,
You should not be rude in your comments Remu, Pakistan has a lot of gap in civilian and army connections which people like you can fulfill by being courteous.
Other wise tensions will increase and yes we know that out of two wars of 65 and 71 and Kargil and Osama operation army was very active to loose all.
Be brave to face all.
This will not solve the problem;
@Usman:
My brother retired from Army as a doctor recently. Never had to do all those things that you mentioned. He was also sent to UK (with special official passport mind you) all-expense paid by the poor civilians. By the time he retired he has land as well as a house in Bahria town Rawalpindi courtesy of poor people of Pakistan. Also he gets a medal for just being in the Army for a certain time, no wars fought. This is just a gist of all they get in Army medical Corp otherwise the list goes such as never having to pay for car repair as Army workshop will do it for you courtesy of poor shmucks of people of Pakistan who still think Army is doing them a favour.
Give half of the perks of Army to civilian doctors who already work in much worst conditions than a typical CMH and they will have no complaint.
hahahaahahaha!
i work at Jinnah Hospital! NO ARMY DOCTORS are deployed there! False information is being spread here! Secondly, the army doctors are incompetent and can't handle a tertiary care hospital as well as we can!
LASTLY: the army doctors deployed at mayo ran back to their superiors after 2 hours of duty in the mayo emergency saying that the load was too much for them to handle!
Long live YDA
@ rashid, @ rao @ Umer,
We should not mingle the presence of army doctors present and civilian doctors absent, neither we should get into details of salary packages and benefits.
I would advice all young (wonder what is definition of young here in Pakistan) to apply for same cadre posts in UAE ,Saudia & other countries.
They will come to know their worth in 30 days, this is enough time and cannot bring back that child of 1 and half year who died and some doctors are under 302, what they say in Pakistan for murder charges. Good Decision Government of Punjab.
You have to know if you are doctor to have deep pockets or to serve humanity. One cannot be called a physician if they start taking away the lives of others for the lack of lucrativeness in their jobs.
Shehbaz Sharif acted wisely by inviting army doctors for the service of poor patients. Allah bless Shehbaz Sharif and army doctors. Other young doctors should be punished.
@Umer Your comment hints that you are a drop out case of ISSB... Pak Army is the only left over Institution in Pakistan who is paying back the much being paid.... Because none out of non-army govt service department has such high proportion of causality rate....! 98% of the Army consists of people whom you do not see on television and are employed all over the country where you have never been...! It is sad indeed that, our Civilian (govt servants) brothers are only paid for doing nothing and every time Army is called to clean up the mess.....!
Obviously there are more military doctors than are needed by military therefore let’s keep these doctors here for prolonged period as they are public servants too paid by the public. Let them do some work for a change.
@ Umer
Think high.
"IF ANYONE SAVES ONE HUMAN BEING LIFE, SAVES WHOLE HUMANITY" We should follow the teaching of ISLAM, the real WAY TO SUCCESS.
@Umer: Pay the debt where it is due! Though we are paying them handsomely but this is not the mandate for which they are paid. Good work must be appreciated no matter it relates to army or any other institution.
This proves one more thing, they were so farigh, as they complied with the Punjab government request immediately.
A very misleading headline - the Army are not "rescuing" anyone, but are breaking the back of a legitimate strike action by the YDA. Same as when Army intervenes in the running of the government, this is bad news for all.
Let's give credit where credit is due. Thank you Pakistan army. Now please do another favor to entire Pakistan, not just Punjab: let go of your iron grip on the country, let the Rule of Law prevail which requires Pakistan to be a civilian-dominated, not a military-dominated country in which army is accountable to the People and not the other way round.
The irony here is that the Army doctors enjoy the benfits that the YDA are demanding.
@Umer: they get the perks because they are professionals and do their jobs well. and docs must know that they have also got education from tax payers money. return our money back and get the perks..
@rashid Army doctors have same salary/perks as any (other arms) army officer. You are just annoyed because they have more humanity in them and they are available to help patients.
There are other ways of demanding your rights then just boycotting the hospitals and make patients suffer. If these doctors think they are right, then just go and file your case in any court of Pakistan.
@Umer: Yes they are better payed, but they sign very strict bond. They can't have their passports, they can't practice privately, they are bound to visit hard areas every two months (if not permanently posted there), they live far from their families, they can't go on protests,....... So they work hard, and yes I love them whether you find any wrong with me or not
@rashid: perk and privileges ??? army doctors ??? is that a joke of some low standard because I know army very well and I know they get pay and allowances as any other federal govt servent according to the pay , they pay income tax , house tax , electricity , water , gas etc etc so what perks and privileges you are talking about ..... if you count serving in siachin above 20,000 feet and looking after patients , serving in desserts of Thar and Cholistan and treating patients , serving in the border areas and war driven tribal areas , getting them self killed in taliban mortar attaks and plenty of other this as PERKS AND PRIVILEGES then you are most welcome to join the party ; to my knowledge every doctor is given invitation to join army and its your decision to join or not to join , why have you not joined then army to enjoy the perks and privileges ........
What are you talking about?. Army doctors are paid far less than civilian doctors. Get your facts straight dude.
Army has so many doctors to spare..... now wonder they need a trillion PKR budget.....
Very poor dealing by CM with YDA, so he should resign and surrender his post to ARMY as well . . . .!!!!!
@Umer,
I can understand you feel very uncomfortable when you see the limitless love we Pakistanis have for our Army. Grow up Indian, there are other things in this world than to be jealous..
why army not coming to karachi... we need you there also for security.....are you favouring only PMLN
Well done Pak Army
Both the steps - the request from the Punjab government and the army accepting it - are basically wrong. It again showed that a civilian government has been unable to resolve an issue without going to the military, a bane of politics in Pakistan.
Its amazing that all sorts of skilled, semi-skilled and technical manpower is readily avaiable with Pak Army. Probably the only institution intact in this country. No wonder, whenver there is a problem, the Pak Army has solutions.
What message Punjab govt is trying to give by putting army doctors? Thousands of doctors are still jobless in Pakistan and looking for opportunities overseas? is this good administration example by Mr. Shehbaz Sharif?
Nothing good or bad can happen in this country without the support of army.
Well done .
What is wrong with Army lovers? We pay Army handsomely. They get better perks than the civilians so no thanks to them.
Young doctors are the enemies of the people of Punjab. Their degrees should be cancelled at once and they should baned for life time to government job and practice.
congratulation to all, dictator-e-alla won the fight.now we will have perfect health care system in Punjab
yes army doctors are out because they have got a good salary package, service structure and all the known perks and privileges which the civilian doctors are demanding but the spiritual SON OF ZIA UL HAQ and the Nazi league is denying... .
good going Punjab government! :D its just not right to fulfill to demand every time... Doctors should realize their responsibilities first and they got good raise last year!
All the culprits among the ranks of Doctors must be taken to task, they played with the lives of innocent people while perusing there endless demands.
We love our Army and we salute their sacrifice in all hard times. I am sure patients would take a sign of relief.
I love Pak Army ..they are always available to help ..
Wel Done Pak Army.... Kick these blackmailers out...