The ‘unappeasable’ Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab has now put up further reservations and a ‘conditional welcome’ despite the Rs 5.2 billion package announced by the Punjab government, while on the other hand, all big associations of doctors have openly welcomed the government decision. The YDA Punjab announced its decision after a healthcare convention for South Punjab doctors in Bahawalpur.
The decision also came at a time when other associations of doctors including the Medical Teachers Association (MTA) and the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) have publicly welcomed the government decision. The PMA has even said that the package announced by the government is already “agreed upon,” while it will hold further meetings with the cabinet committee of the Punjab government to finalise remaining details of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The YDA Pakistan, in a separate press briefing, hailed the government move and termed it a “timely” decision and an “immediate relief” for the medical community. However, the YDA Punjab offered a “conditional welcome” to the government package. YDA Media Secretary Dr Aftab Ashraf, said that there are several issues, which have been left undecided in the government package. He said that the YDA Punjab was not taken on board before announcing the package and denied that the YDA Punjab met the cabinet committee a couple of days before the package was announced.
Ashraf demanded that the government should implement the salary raise in one go and from July 1, besides issuing a notification of the announced package. He said that the government should announce the timescale and mechanism of the service structure of doctors. Ashraf said that the future of PG trainees and HOs also hangs in the balance. “The May 11 strike has been called off but if the government does not meet our demands by May 16, we reserve the right to go on a strike again. Now our demands are not related to finance but to structuring,” he added.
To a question, Ashraf said that the medical community and media are well aware of the “real” leadership of doctors, which can bring thousands of doctors on roads and organise “huge” conventions. PMA Joint Secretary Dr Shahid Malik maintained that the PMA “amicably” got a special package from the government, which announced the package with “consent” of the PMA.
When asked about different outstanding issues, Malik said that the pay scale issue will be discussed in the National Assembly. “The reservations put up by a segment of doctors are uncalled for, because all these issues have already been resolved except those matters which are in the court. The demand for a notification cannot be met because the package is a part of the money bill which cannot be notified before the budget is announced,” he said adding that young doctors are “our sons” but are being “misused” at the hands of “certain” principals and professors of medical colleges.
“The PMA got the demands not at the cost of patient care but through table talks,” he added.