The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab has called off its strike and resumed treatment of patients in all departments of public sector hospitals across the province in compliance with orders of the Lahore High Court.
“The normal functioning of indoor and outdoor wards resumed in hospitals on Monday,” YDA Punjab office-bearers, including President Dr Hamid Butt, Dr Nasir Abbas and Dr Kashif Bilal told a press conference on Monday.
Earlier, the YDA Punjab had resumed emergency services on Saturday on the orders of the Lahore High Court.
The YDA began its strike in out-patient departments (OPDs) on June 18, 2012 demanding a service structure for doctors, while it withdrew services from emergency and indoor wards as well after the Punjab police launched a crackdown on young doctors on July 1.
Following the end of the YDA strike, the process of Pakistan Army doctors’ return has begun. These doctors were called in on the request of the Punjab government due to the doctors’ strike.
Meanwhile, the LHC said strict action would be taken if the government or young doctors did not comply with its orders. Lahore High Court Justice Aijazul Hassan heard the case relating to the clash between the Punjab government and young doctors over the formation of service structure on Monday.
As the hearing began, young doctors lamented that the Punjab government had not withdrawn show-cause notices and orders of sacking of doctors despite court orders. Implementing the court orders, the young doctors said they had called off their strike.
During the proceeding, the lawyer for the Punjab government maintained that the authorities had implemented the court orders, adding that the allegations of young doctors were fake and baseless.
The judge said both the government and doctors had to follow the directives of court, otherwise strict action would be taken against both.
