Public-private: YDA protests privatisation of health facilities

Protesting doctors block The Mall, stage sit-in outside Punjab Assembly

LAHORE: Scores doctors led by Young Doctors’ Association on Thursday took out protest rallies and blocked traffic near public hospitals to demand an end to what they called was privatisation of health facilities.

The YDA blocked traffic around Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo Hospital and De Montmorency College of Dentistry.

Later, they also blocked The Mall and staged a sit-in in front of the Punjab Assembly.

Doctors from Lahore General Hospital (LGH) and Children Hospital blocked Ferozepur Road. Doctors from Services Hospital and Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) blocked Jail Road and doctors from Jinnah Hospital and Shaikh Zaid Hospital blocked Canal Road.

“Privatisation of health facilities in 10 districts should be stopped immediately. Besides young doctors, senior doctors are also demanding an end to the privatisation plan,” said Shabbir Chaudhary, a YDA representative.

He said the government had failed to implement the service structure reform promises it had made.

“Paid seats for post graduate trainees should be announced and a compensation package should be given to doctors working at rural health centres and basic health units in far-flung areas,” he said.

He said there were 500 unpaid PGs in the province.

“The YDA will hold protest demonstrations across the province next week,” said Dr Khurram Shehzad, the YDA information secretary. He said the YDA would continue to protest until the government accepted their demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2015.