Strings attached: Doctors united over ‘mafia’, differ over MTI Reforms Act

PESHAWAR:

Members of Provincial Doctors Association seem to have united with Young Doctors Association (YDA) against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan who called doctors a ‘mafia’. However, they disagreed with YDA’s refusal to implement the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act, 2015.

Earlier this week, Imran Khan said doctors were acting like the mafia’ stating they were proving to be the greatest hurdle in the implementation of the MTI Reforms Act.

YDA raised objections against the PTI chief and his use of such words. They demanded that Imran apologise and observed a black day across K-P on Friday.



Raising objections

YDA members wore black ribbons and observed “black day” in all health institutions across the province.

The association members said they had already raised concerns regarding several clauses of the MTI Reforms Act, 2015 and will continue to do so till their grievances were addressed. “We observed a black day and plan to take to the streets in a week or so,” YDA Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) President Dr Amjad told The Express Tribune. “Boycotting the out-patient department (OPD) will only cause patients to suffer but we will not hesitate to protest if our concerns are not given due attention,” he added.

“We were asked to reply if we were willing to implement the act but 97% of the doctors refused to do so,” Amjad added. He said the PTI chief had labelled 97% of the doctors as a mafia which meant he had really maligned all of them.

Amjad said the best way to resolve the issue was to hold a conversation and negotiate.

Partial solidarity

Provincial Doctors Association (PDA), considered the most powerful association of the doctors community, accepted the MTI Reforms Act, 2015 and supported its implementation. However, it stood on the side of the doctors community and condemned Imran’s use of the term.

“In the absence of laws and lack of implementation of the previous act, the new MTI Reforms Act, 2015 is crucial for the well-being of the community - patients as well as health institutions,” PDA Chairman Dr Shah Sawar said.

He added although the PDA favoured the act and endorsed its immediate implementation; it stood by the doctors’ community and shared its agitation over Imran’s words.

Beacon of hope

Insaf Doctors Forum (IDF) Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) chapter General Secretary Dr Mudeer, however, seemed relaxed and said the situation was under control. “Many issues have been resolved and barring discussion on a few clauses of the MTI act, things will normalise soon,” he added. Mudeer assured they were in contact with YDA and the community will soon be updated.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2015.