LAHORE – Gynaecology patients have become a shuttlecock between the public sector hospitals and private hospitals owing to the strike by Young Doctors Association (YDA). A number of pregnant women were referred to private hospitals. A patient expired during YDA’s attempt to dislodge the doctors on duty at Mayo Hospital. A YDA office-bearer from Mayo Hospital and his fellows entered Lady Willingdon Hospital and threatened the doctors on duty. Lady Willingdon Hospital (LWH) is considered as one of the famous hospitals for gynaecology patients with the highest number of deliveries in the province.
According to LWH administration, more than 250 pregnant patients visited the outdoor patients department (OPD) per day and about 50 to 55 newborn babies had delivered in the hospital in both normal condition and C-section. But owing to the strike announced by YDA, a large number of gynaecology patients faced a lot of problems. A number of patients from all over the province especially from Sheikhpura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Narangmandi, Muridke and other near linked cities rushed towards the LWH for their patients’ treatment. Munir Ahmed, husband of Ume Zarwa, a pregnant lady at LWH, said, “Most of the patients belong to poor families and have difficulty arranging money to get their loved ones treated. But when they reach the hospital, doctors behave badly with them.”
Young doctors from Services Hospital (SH) came to Mayo Hospital to stop the work in the hospital’s emergency ward, meanwhile a patient from Shahdara, who was brought to Mayo Hospital for treatment, expired. The patient had a road accident and was in a serious condition but doctors from SH did not allow the patient to enter Mayo Hospital. The relatives of the deceased patient protested against the doctors at the hospital and demanded stern action against those responsible.
YDA office bearer and other doctors including the registrar and the senior registrar from Mayo Hospital reached LWH and threatened the staff as well as doctors, who were on duty and providing medical treatments to critical patients in labour room and told them to withdraw their services, else they would be punished. On the other hand, LWH administration was forced to shut up their facilities and relieve the staff.
LWH Medical Superintendent Dr Afzal Shaheen told Pakistan Today that young doctors entered the hospital and dragooned the staff into leaving the hospital. He said young doctors threatened lady doctors who were working in the wards and labor rooms. He said that doctors from LWH had no option but to obey because the government had not provided them with proper security.
A complete strike was being observed in all teaching hospitals’ in-door and out-patients departments but YDA announced strike in emergency wards after 2:00 pm yesterday. Doctors referred the patients to private hospital and refused to check them. A number of protests were observed in different hospitals; Mayo Hospital, LWH, Jinnah Hospital and Lahore General Hospital.
