YDA calls province-wide strike on February 13

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KARACHI: A Joint Action Committee (JAC) of doctors on Saturday gave the Sindh health department another ultimatum to issue a notification of increase in salaries and allowances, stating that the doctors of Sindh would go on a province-wide strike again from February 13 otherwise.

This was announced by Sindh Young Doctors Association (YDA) Chairman Dr Umer Sultan during a joint press conference held at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Dr Pir Manzoor, Dr Yasin Umrani, Dr Waris and others were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Umer Sultan said that the Sindh government has failed to issue notification despite the passage of the one-week deadline and it seemed that the concerned authorities of the provincial health department were reluctant to fulfil their earlier commitment made with doctors.

He said that JAC had decided to give the provincial health department two more days to issue a notification of increase salaries and allowances, announcing that doctors all over Sindh would otherwise observe a complete boycott of Out Patient Departments (OPD) and Operation Theaters (OTs) from Feb 13.

However, he said that emergencies of hospitals would remain open as per schedule.

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Sindh General Secretary Dr Pir Manzoor Ali said that the Sindh government’s attitude towards resolving genuine issues of the medical community was condemnable and that the health department has compelled the doctors to go on strike again by delaying the notification.

Earlier, the doctors of Sindh had observed completed strike and boycott of OPDs throughout the province for three days in demand of raised salaries and allowances on the patron of other provinces but had called it off on the assurance of Provincial Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.