LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday expressed anger over postgraduate training doctors – who have been protesting against Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act – for suspending treatment to patients and not appearing in the hearing today despite court orders.
Justice Jawad Hassan presided over the hearing of a petition against protesting doctors and remarked: “I will see which doctor refuses treatment to patients […] we will direct crackdown against protesting doctors today.”
“There is no concept of doctors going on strike all over the world […] who gives license to these doctors?” the court asked.
Health department officials told the court that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) issues a license to the medical practitioners.
The court has also again summoned concerned authorities and representatives of protesting doctors in the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also issued notices to protesting doctors.
According to the sources, supervisors have been directed to report over the issue and take action against those violating the notice.
Reportedly, the provincial authorities have formed a five-member committee for talks with the protestors.
“The committee is fully authorised to hold meaningful dialogues on behalf of the Punjab government with the striking doctors and other health professionals, including nurses and paramedics and take measures to resolve all the issues so that the service delivery to the patients is resumed”, read the official notification.