LAHORE: The Young Doctor Association (YDA) called off its strike with immediate effect on Thursday and directed all junior doctors to join their duties at hospitals.
The doctors had shut down outpatient departments at all major hospitals two days ago after the anti-corruption authorities’ tried to arrest the YDA Vice-President.
According to YDA members, the strike was called off after a meeting with the anti-corruption department director-general, who assured the doctors of his cooperation.
They added the decision to restore the OPDs at all hospitals was taken on Wednesday night after a meeting with health officials. But the YDA announced ending its strike immediately in the wake of the latest bombing in Lahore and the meeting with anti-corruption officials.
Another member, however, said the decision was taken after Wednesday’s incident when a patient died at the Services Hospital’s emergency ward after he was refused treatment. The YDA was divided into two groups and the new group wanted to open the emergency department at any cost, he added.
The Punjab Health Department also issued a statement, saying during their meeting with the anti-corruption chief, the YDA representatives tendered an apology for the misbehaviour during Tuesday’s raid.
They requested the anti-corruption director to forward a proper application to the health department for the arrest of the corrupt elements within the YDA.
Meanwhile, YDA leader Dr Khuram Shehzad told APP that the association decided to call off their strike across the province in the larger interest of patients in the wake of the Defence blast.
