LAHORE – On the directions of the Punjab government, the Health Department has decided to take the parents of agitating young doctors on board, as part of its efforts to bring the prolonged doctors’ strike to an end, Pakistan Today has learnt. The Health Department and the office bearers of the Young Doctors Association Punjab (YDAP) have held several meetings to resolve the issue of a special salary package for the doctors. However, the talks have not been able to bring a thaw and doctors continue to protest for their demands.
Initially, the outdoor patients departments (OPD) of major hospitals were closed down and even traffic on major arteries of the provincial metropolis was blocked. This caused growing resentment among the people, causing doctors to start the OPD services on the roads, wearing black armbands. Sources privy to the development revealed that the decision has been taken in the wake of the 48-hour ultimatum given by the young doctors to meet their demands lest they should shut down even the indoor facilities in the hospitals.
They further said that the government has decided to contact the parents of protesting doctors to admonish their children for such ‘illegal and immoral’ acts. The Health Department will issue directions to the medical superintendents and principals of the hospitals concerned to write to the parents in this regard, reminding them that the government has spent millions on the training of these doctors.
A medical superintendent of a hospital, seeking anonymity, said that letters are being sent to only female doctors’ parents, as male doctors will ‘pay no heed’ even if their parents are contacted.
