Waiting on old promises: OPDs remain deserted as doctors observe strike

YDA demands implementation of service structure promised by the govt.

PESHAWAR:

Hundreds of patients visiting government-run hospitals in the city found themselves without medical assistance on Saturday amidst a doctors’ strike against the delay in the implementation of a proposed service structure.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) boycotted duties at out-patient departments (OPD) of all major public hospitals and even closed the doors of several wards at Lady Reading Hospital.

YDA President Dr Zubair told The Express Tribune the strike would continue until the government issues a departmental notification stating their recommendations would be included in the upcoming annual budget.

“During our previous protest in September, health minister Shaukat Yousafzai and officials of the health department assured us several times that the proposed service structure will be implemented within three months,” shared Dr Zubair.

According to him, the YDA had given recommendations for upgradation and promotion of doctors in the proposed service structure and also suggested that vacancies should be created at major teaching hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for qualified doctors.

Dr Zubair added Yousafzai promised he would resign from office if he failed to implement a service structure for doctors, however, he has not fulfilled his promise to date. “The provincial government’s behaviour has created a sense of uncertainty among doctors and we will continue our strike,” said Dr Zubair.

YDA Chairman Dr Naseebur Rehman of the Khyber Teaching Hospital said their only demand was for a service structure. “The health minister had promised YDA in front of the media that our demands will be met, but he has failed to do so,” said Rehman.

However, the strike was postponed till Monday after negotiations between Yousafzai, Health Secretary Ghulam Qadir Khan, Provincial Doctors Associations President Shahswar, Insaf Doctors Forum President Dr Nasir Khan and YDA representatives.

Yousafzai assured the doctors a departmental notification of the service structure will be issued on Monday after which the boycott was postponed.

The boycott spelled inconvenience for several patients who had come from far. Ghani Rehman, who had brought his father from Nowshera, complained that his father was suffering due to the non-availability of doctors. “His condition is very bad, he needs to be admitted but there are no doctors to examine him,” said Ghani, adding he had heard the strike would end soon which is why he was still waiting at the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.