YDA strike: Doctors agree to go back to work
Spokesman says YDA retains right to resume strike in 15 days if there is no progress on service structure.
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strike because they accepted the court’s orders, but the government had not demonstrated the same spirit as it had not withdrawn policemen from hospitals.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.
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.