LAHORE:
The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab called off its strike on Sunday and announced that its members would get back to work at outpatient departments in public hospitals from 9:00am on Monday in compliance with the Lahore High Court’s orders.
Doctors went back to their jobs at indoor departments straight after the announcement, which was made at a press briefing at Allama Iqbal Medical College by YDA Punjab spokesman Dr Nasir Bokhari.
Dr Bokhari said the doctors were calling off their strike because they accepted the court’s orders, but the government had not demonstrated the same spirit as it had not withdrawn policemen from hospitals.
The LHC had on Saturday ordered the doctors to end their strike and the government not to harass them in anyway. “We have called off our strike because we trust the judiciary. We are hopeful that the court will also look into a false [murder] case registered against young doctors. Our four brothers are still behind bars and await justice,” said Dr Bokhari.
He said that the doctors were not giving up their fight for a revised service structure. He said that the court had directed a special committee of government and doctors’ representatives to come up with proposals for the service structure within 15 days. He said if concrete progress were not made in 15 days, the association had the right to go back on strike. “When we are pushed against the wall and denied our rights, we will go on strike,” he said.
The spokesman said the decision to call off strike was taken by the General Council. He said that the YDA had been forced to go on strike because the government had been ignoring their needs. “We go on strike when we are compelled to do so. We hope that the service structure matter is resolved on the court’s orders once and for all,” he said.
Dr Bokhari said that the deployment of policemen at hospitals had deterred several doctors from joining their duties. The government said earlier that it had deployed the policemen for the security of new doctors hired to treat patients while the YDA was on strike. Asked about the new doctors, the YDA Punjab spokesman said: “I didn’t hire them and I cannot fire them.”
He said that the YDA Punjab would meet again on Monday to discuss its plans. “The General Council is in Lahore and in case any action is taken against doctors or things get worse, we can make a quick decision,” said YDA Punjab Media Coordinator Dr Aftab.
The YDA started its strike on June 18.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique welcomed the YDA decision to send its members back to work. He said that the government would comply fully with the court’s orders.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (23)
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@People who say hire new doctors- Dude even medical students are protesting.
Obviously we shall do it again if the basic rights to the doctors are not granted. The problem with our society is that we discourage anyone who speak about his rights. Another thing we should always keep in our mind that nobody pay any attention to a silent protest in our society. If the media would have paid any attention to that, doctors would have never taken such extreme measures. Doctors are not Messiahs,Pharaohs, Dogs and Butchers. We are simple human beings who work PROFESSIONALLY for their living. Its time for Pakistanis to spend more on health and education than on defense and security.
huh, still they are not coming back to treat patients. What a bleak statement " We have called off our strike because we trust the judiciary " awful...
I am not a doctor but stand with them in their service structure demand. I can't believe they stood united without genuine issue. Punjab Government should look into their concerns and sit with them in genuine issue resolution approach. So far this issue has been handled with iron fist which is not solution of any problem.
Its shameful that police is still present in hospitals against doctors and some doctors are still detained in jails.
All the leaders of the YDA should be fired and must not be taken back by the Punjab Government. While the ones, who followed them should be given an opportunity and consideration.
Shame on YDA for playing with lives of innocent people. Govt. must take harsh and strict measure against them. At one side unemployment is increasing and govt. must address this issue proactively and forget about the raise in salaries for YDA. They can't blackmail us.
@Hellodrsoul: after CSS are u in right mind...? CSS officers are BA pass.. you could have said engineers, even though thats not true.. in genious world book record medical professional are considered most intellegent and hard working
We will put the biggest injection in Rana Sana Ullah, Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Salman etc when they come for treatment. Every kick that our doctors received from the Police will be returned with favour. Very soon when the tables will be turned on this fraudelant duo, and when they will again find themselves in a cage, that will be the time that we will distribute sweets and the doctor on duty will make him eat the humble pie. They have lost doctors as a community.
The Tyranny of the One man Show won over educated Doctors!
Last year also they blackmailed the Govt and their salaries were raised. This year again and in future they will start blackmailing again. They should be dealt with an iron hand which they have been finally. They are not special. If their service structure, salaries appraisal are enhanced then why not for all the Govt employees engineers, CSS etc which ofcourse Punjab govt cannot afford. Remember, these all doctors didn't spend a penny in their expensive education.They should thank Govt funded medical universities for it. If they are so greedy and talented then they better should try private hospitals which ofcourse they wont be selected(most of them).
@NP this is not right to blame CM for this, if your eyes are open you can see he increased last year thier salaries that YDA were very thankfull to CM
Young doctors please keep it in your minds and never forget that Yousaf Raza Gillani has faced the severe consequences of contempt of court and you were also going towards the exactly Yousaf Raza Gillani's direction but by taking some wise steps you rescued yourselves from contempt of court.
@mister: they have every right to do it again. The core issue has still not been resolved. Poor governance and administrative qualities exhibited by our CM.
This is a Political wing of Doctors'. They should contest in General election & then fulfill the demand of YDA. I challenge they will never be able to fulfill their (YDA) demands at that time. we always wish to make our children doctors but we don't wish if this means DOCTOR
shame on them!
They can't be fired as such as they have done a decade long journey to reach this position. They have made a wise decision by complying with court orders. This is pathetic if one doesn't know his future/promotion/perks of 15 year long hard work. They are practically the most talented group of our society after CSS officers. I hope court ll realize the gravity of the situation.
Demand of a proper "service structure" by the doctors is justified and Punjab govt. should look into it favourably. Whereas, YDA should also try to chalk out a more "people friendly" way of protest, if needed, in future. Sympathies of general public are of course with the doctors and YDA. It will be a loss for YDA's struggle if they lose general public's support. Its time that our governments (Federal and provincial) allocate more funds for health and education sectors and it will only be possible by cutting down the non-development and defense budgets.
Take affidavit from all YDA members before they resume their duties!
I would refuse to let these blackmailing young doctors back to work until they pay back their government subsidized education. They have shown that they are irresponsible and unprofessional. They have made a joke of the medical profession.
Do not let them join. They will do it again. Fire them and hire new doctors. There are many good doctors available.