Punjab chief secretary directs secretaries to consider doctors’ demands

LAHORE – Punjab Chief Secretary (CS) Nasir Mehmood Khosa on Monday directed the provincial health and finance secretaries to deliberate on demands of young doctors. A delegation of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif a few days ago and presented their demands including a special pay package for doctors, pay protection and increasing slots for doctors on house job. The CM had constituted a committee consisting of all stakeholders to resolve issues of young doctors.
The committee led Khosa met on Monday while Punjab Planning and Development Department Chairman Javed Aslam, Health Parliamentary Secretary Saeed Elahi, MPA Dr Asad Ashraf and the finance and health secretaries and representatives of YDA were also present. According to sources, the chief secretary directed the young doctors to prioritise their demands, as the Punjab government wanted to resolve issues facing doctors, but have to consider other issues associated with it.
“Khosa was of the view that the Punjab government is already short of funds and needs to deliberate properly before announcing a pay raise for young doctors, as the decision may create resentment among senior professors. He said that the Punjab government may not be in a position to meet all demands and it is better if doctors prioritise them,” sources said.
According to sources, the next meeting is expected within a couple of weeks. Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) President Dr Tanveer Anwar, Vice President Dr Ihsanur Rehman, General Secretary Dr Izhar Ahmed Chaudhry, Lady Vice President Dr Yasmin Ihsan, Finance Secretary Dr Kamran Saeed and Lady Joint Secretary Dr Sabahat Habib Khan in a combined press statement have regarded constitution of the committee for pay raise of young doctors as “insufficient steps” taken by the Punjab government to resolve the matter and added that the PMA, which is the largest organisation of doctors, has not been included in the committee and the Punjab government is trying to delay the matter.
PMA office bearers have demanded the health department to implement the special salary package presented by the PMA to resolve this matter “once and for all”. They also demanded the Punjab government not to a impose a ban on ex-Pakistan leaves of senior doctors and take practical steps to improve the financial status of doctors so that they are not forced to leave the country in search of an attractive salary packages.