The doctors and employees of Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZH) have decided to go on a strike if the Punjab government puts pressure on the administration to bring it under provincial control, Pakistan Today learnt on Tuesday. Sources revealed that the decision was taken after a meeting of senior doctors and other employees of the hospital still under the federal government despite the devolution of the Health Ministry to provinces under the 18th Amendment. They said further that the decision had not been made public because the administration was still looking at the scenario, but the decision had been taken categorically.
SZH Chairman Dr Zafar Iqbal, in a press briefing on Tuesday, requested the federal government to implement the Career Structure for Health Personnel Bill at SZH besides conveying to the Centre their “resolve” of not coming under the Punjab government. He said the hospital had been working under the Cabinet Division for 26 years and did not want any change. The chairman also said being head of the institute it was “my responsibility to convey to authorities the concern of my employees, which I’ve already elaborated”. He said SZH was a trust hospital and could not be handed over to the Punjab government just like that because it was governed under the trust rules.
