The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has called off its strike and resumed treatment of patients in all departments of public sector hospitals in the province in compliance with orders of the Lahore High Court.
“The normal functioning of indoor and outdoor wards resumed in hospitals on Monday,” said YDA office-bearers including its president Dr. Hamid Butt, Dr. Nasir Abbas, Dr. Kashif Bilal and many others while addressing a press conference after holding general council meeting at the Adminstration Block of the Jinnah Hospital.
Earlier, the YDA had resumed emergency services Saturday on the orders of the Lahore High Court after the closure of emergency services for five days.
The YDA Punjab began its strike in Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) on June 18 demanding a service structure for doctors, while it withdrew services from emergency and indoor wards as well after Punjab police launched a crackdown on young doctors on July 1.
Following the end of the YDA strike, Army doctors are returning to their duties. These doctors were called in on the request of the Punjab government due to young doctors strike.
Meanwhile, the LHC said that strict action will be taken if government or young doctors don’t comply with its orders.
Lahore High Court justice Aijazul Hassan heard the case relating to the clash between Punjab government and young doctors over the formation of service structure on Monday.
As the hearing began, young doctors lamented that the Punjab government hasn’t retracted their orders of show-cause notice and sacking of doctors despite court orders.
Implementing the court orders, the young doctors said they called off their strike.
During the proceeding, the lawyer of Punjab government maintained that the authorities have implemented the court orders, adding that the allegations of young doctors were fake and baseless.
The judge said both the government and doctors have to follow the directives of court otherwise strict action will be taken.