packages of doctors in Punjab. “So we provided them with notifications issued by the Punjab government about salaries being paid to the postgraduate trainees and house officers,” he said.
On the other hand, JPMC’s executive director Dr Anisuddin Bhatti told newsmen that the administration had written letters to Sindh Rangers and SSP South Dr Jameel Ahmed for taking action against protesting doctors and paramedics, who’s illegal and baseless protest had resulted in a grave crisis for thousands of patients.
He said it were the patients who ultimately suffered on account of the protest which he suspected could be motivated by political reasons.
Dr Bhatti said the hospital administration was doing its best to resolve the issues facing doctors and paramedics and efforts for restructuring the pay scale were under way.
He said he had asked for evidence of the increased pay scale in Punjab so the Sindh government could be convinced over the matter and give matching stipends to the local doctors.
Meanwhile, Dr Javed Jamali, a spokesman for the JPMC, denied the reports of deaths of patients. He confirmed that the young doctors had called off their strike on assurance of the JPMC administration and insisted that the hospital never seized functioning during the two-day boycott.
“Patients succumb to their ailments and wounds in routine at a large hospital like the JPMC and this has nothing to do with the strike of doctors and paramedics,” he claimed.
Paramedics continue strike
On the other hand, paramedical staff of both hospitals continued their boycott of health services. They vowed to continue the protest till health allowance was paid to them equal to the amount being given in Punjab.
A spokesman of for the paramedical staff of the JPMC, Ismail Jiskani, said though doctors had called off their strike, they would continue their boycott till the JPMC administration gave them concrete assurances for the payment of health allowances.