ISLAMABAD – The Young Doctors Association (YDA) urged the government on Thursday to regularise the services of doctors who were working on contractual basis and induct young doctors in BPS-18 to raise young doctors’ pay according to the reservations of National Health Commission (NHC) and Pay and Pension Committee (PPC). Briefing journalists at the National Press Club, (YDA) President Dr Muhammad Ajmal said the doctors were struggling for their rights for last many decades.
The officials of other institutions, he said, were enjoying many facilities but the doctors and professors were deprived even of their basic rights.
He asserted the government should address the plight of young doctors instead of acting upon the guidelines of bureaucracy. He said the doctors met with the health additional secretary many times and presented its demands before him but, he added, the additional sectary rejected their charter of demands. He further said the doctors were demanding the implementation of those bills which had been passed in the National Assembly and Senate.
He said that President Asif Ali Zardari had announced to regularise all the contractual employees but most of the paramedic staff was still working on contract basis. He added that if their demands would not be fulfilled within a few days, they would close down the Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in all the hospitals and shift them on footpaths. A YDA representative said even after the prolonged strikes, the doctors did not leave operation theaters and other critical care units just for the sake of patients.
Their organisation had no political background, he said adding that government should not compel them to do something against their spirit. YDA’s other representatives including YDA Sectary General Dr Khurram, Dr Abbas and Dr Rishi also attended the press conference. Earlier, YDA workers held a protest rally in support of their demands. The rally started from Poly Clinic Hospital and culminated at the National Press Club (NPC).
