CM begs, YDA says NO

The stubborn Punjab Young Doctors Association (YDA) continued its strike in all public hospitals across the province on Tuesday leaving thousands of poor patients at the mercy of fate while the government remained a mere onlooker.
It has been a week that the “stubborn” young doctors announced a strike against the transfer of their colleagues by the Health Department and the lack of a job structure. The government on its end is stick to the stance that the transfer of doctors is a routine matter and the YDA decision to suspend services to patients is unwanted, while dialogue should be held. However, no thaw has been achieved so far while the population of the most densely populated province remain without health services for a week.
“I came from Kasur for a dental check up at the dental hospital with my younger brother but were told after reaching here that the doctors are on a strike and services have been withdrawn from the hospital…the problem is already so bad and is getting worse…on the top of it all we do not know when to come back again…coming all the way for a treatment costs a lot of money…we don’t even know what to do or who will resolve the issue for the poor,” Rashida Bibi, at dental hospital, told Pakistan Today.
The situation is even worse in the far flung districts where the health facilities are poor even in normal circumstances. The government for once has taken action against a few doctors in Gujrat but later released them fearing the political fall back. YDA office bearers condemned the arrests saying it will further worsen the situation if the government resorts to “such tactics”. YDA spokesperson further said no negotiations with the government had taken place and the strike will continue. Neither CM’s Assistant on Health Khwaja Salmaan Rafique nor Health Secretary Captain (r) Arif Nadeem were available for comments.
Separately, talking to the reporters, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif made an appeal to the doctors to call off their strike and assume their responsibilities. He asked the people to appeal to the doctors to end their strike and pay attention to the ailing humanity.