LAHORE – Various teaching hospitals of Punjab are returning to normal after a 38 days strike called by young doctors demanding a substantial increase in their salaries came to end. Patients were treated in emergencies and outdoor patients departments while major and minor surgical procedures were also performed by doctors expect at Services Hospital and Children’s Hospital, where a number of patients faced a lot of difficulties during treatment.
According to sources, around 2,200 patients were attended in six teaching hospitals of the provincial capital and around 2,700 patients were attended in emergency services in various hospitals including teaching and district headquarter hospitals. According to health department sources, around 215 patients were treated in emergency and 451 in OPD of Jinnah Hospital, 197 in emergency and 388 in OPD in Services Hospital, 346 in emergency and 515 in OPD in Mayo Hospital, 118 in emergency and 145 in OPD were attended by doctors in public-sector hospitals.
Patients from various areas, especially within the city, were satisfied with the services provided by the Punjab government in teaching hospitals and three district headquarter hospitals and patients from private-sector hospitals again proceeded to public-sector hospitals. Due to the strike called by young doctors, a number of patients not only had to face a lot of problems but were also referred to private-sector hospitals.
Hospital administrations claimed that patients will come to public-sector hospitals with the passage of time because the continuous strike for 38 days had disturbed a number of patients and emergencies and OPDs will soon return to normal. Punjab Health Parliamentary Secretary Saeed Elahi said that the Punjab government always admired the services of doctors, as they belong to a very reasonable profession but they had adopted a very wrong way. He said that the provincial government wants to increase their salaries but according to its present financial position.
Saeed said that hospital life has normalised and a large number of patients have been checked in public-sector hospitals since the last 48 hours. Jinnah Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Afzal Shaheen told Pakistan Today that the situation normalised as soon as the strike was called-off. He said that patients’ health is their first priority due to which they are providing best medical facilities at Jinnah Hospital.
He said that around 56 minor and 11 major surgeries were performed by doctors on duty. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, which one of the strongholds of the young doctors’ strike, witnessed normalcy and patients were checked by doctors on duty.
Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Sheikh said that the hospital administration had to face a lot of problems during the strike but after successful talks between the Punjab government and young doctors, all facilities have been restored for poor patients.
