Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Wednesday announced suspension of services in outpatient and inpatient wards across the province. The YDA decision came after the police arrested office-bearers of the association for beating up the medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital Gujranwala. According to details, doctors of District Headquarters Hospital were protesting for an increment in their salaries. During the protest, the doctors ransacked the hospital building and beat up the medical superintendent in his office.
Witnesses said that when some doctors tried to intervene, the protesting doctors beat them up as well. Office equipment of the medical superintendent was also damaged in the brawl.
Police was summoned to the scene and several doctors involved in the mayhem were arrested. After the incident, the YDA Punjab suspended services in the OPDs of the hospitals, causing problems for poor patients in cold weather.
“Why do poor patients have to suffer every time something wrong goes with the doctors,” Bashira Bibi, an attendant for a patient asked.
“It is such cold weather and we are here from far off places. The doctors should at least keep in mind the woes of poor patients. We cannot go to private health establishments which is way too expensive for us. Government hospitals are our only option and young doctors keep depriving us from basic health facilities,” she said. Currently, there are at least 1,000 indoor patients at Services Hospital, about 875 patients at Jinnah Hospital, 1,470 patients at Mayo Hospital and about 1,360 patients at Sir Gangaram Hospital.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Gangaram Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz said that the young doctors were very important for the hospital. However, he said, in the absence of young doctors, senior doctors would continue to provide healthcare to citizens and would ensure that no harm comes to the patients of the hospital. Talking to Pakistan Today, YDA Spokesperson Dr Nasir said the strike had been announced to shut services in OPDs and indoor patients in the entire province in protest against the arrest of YDA Punjab head, Dr Rashid and other leaders in Gujranwala.
“It is a government ploy to delay implementing the agreed upon service structure with doctors and the health secretary is responsible for it,” Nasir said, adding that they strike would continue if the YDA office-bearers were not released. This attack by the young doctors drew criticism from other doctors’ associations. General Cadre Doctors Association (GCDA) President Dr Masood Akhtar condemned the attack on the senior doctors. “Initially they an issue with the government, but now they have done it with their seniors, which is totally unacceptable. There are around 16,000 General Cadre doctors in the province and we have formed a committee to look into the matter. We will not be silent bystanders,” he added.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique, however, condemned the attack and the behaviour of the doctors.
“No one will be allowed to create a law and order situation,” he added.
Young doctors at it again!
