YDA PIMS strikes, Poly Clinic chapter seeks peaceful solution

Without having the support of Young Doctors Association (YDA) Poly Clinic Hospital chapter, YDA members at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) held a protest in the hospital on Thursday, demanding the fulfillment of the promises made for the revision of their job structure and raise in salaries.
The doctors launched the protest after PIMS Executive Director Mehmood Jamal and YDA failed to reach a truce. YDA PIMS had given a 48-hour ultimatum on Wednesday to the federal government to fulfill their demands. They suspended services at all outpatient departments (OPDs), warning to close down emergencies, intensive care units (ICUs) and coronary care unit (CCUs) as well if their demands were not met. The PIMS ED told Pakistan Today that he had told the doctors that their demands regarding service structure and revised pay scales would be met and there was no need to suspend services and leave the patients to suffer. Jamal added that the notification, after getting an approval from the Establishment Division, Finance Ministry, Law Division and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), had been sent to the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). “The doctors are just not ready to end the strike. I report to CADD secretary daily and if the doctors do not cooperate with the administration, we will take strict action against them,” said ED.
YDA PIMS President Sajid Abbasi said the Health Ministry and the Establishment Division had earlier “accommodated” YDA’s demands regarding job structures and salaries and they were approved by the prime minister as well, however, the decisions had still not been implemented.
He expressed reservations over the new service structure and claimed that negotiations with YDA in Poly Clinic Hospital were underway and they would also join hands in the strike soon.
Denial: However, YDA Poly Clinic President Dr Muhammad Ajmal had a different version. “Things are nearing a solution and we don’t think that there is any need for a strike. Issues are resolved through negotiations,” he said, adding that YDA’s negotiations with CADD were in progress and things would be settled soon. He ruled out a possibility of joining with the YDA PIMS chapter in the strike.
Meanwhile, patients at PIMS complained that they were facing severe problems due to YDA’s strike that had continued for the last 17 days. “Why do they always opt for strikes and protests? Is there no other way to resolve the issue?” a frustrated patient said.Sakeena Akhter, an elderly fasting woman with a stomach disorder, said, “These doctors are merciless. They don’t care for patients like us who have to borrow money to get to the hospital. I cannot afford private treatment that is why I came to PIMS.”