YDA defiant as Punjab govt sacks 47 doctors

LAHORE: The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab, is on a warpath with the Punjab government as young doctors show defiance in the face of terminations for closing down indoor and outdoor wards in hospitals across Punjab. 

The disciplinary committees, on the recommendations of Academic Councils of medical institutions, issued orders of termination from service of as many as 47 young doctors including 36 House Officers (HOs) and 11 Post Graduate Residents (PGRs) for violating the discipline and refusing to join their duties despite twice-issued warnings – first warning ended at 8 pm on August 2 and then till morning on August 4. 

Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) has terminated the service of Dr Umair Asghar on charges of misconduct for being absent from duty, whereas Jinnah Hospital administration deducted three days salary of House Officer Dr Hameeda Arshad for remaining absent from duty with legitimate reason and prior intimation.

Earlier, YDA forcibly closed down outdoor wards of Services Hospital, Punjab Institute of Cardiology and Jinnah Hospital Friday, where minor operations were postponed and healthcare services were affected in indoor wards. The poor patients suffered a great deal as young doctors ensured no treatment to patients in these hospitals, which displayed the ineffectiveness of the administrations of these hospitals and a threat to the writ of the government in state-run hospitals. 

However, the young doctors in Mayo Hospital, Lady Wellington Hospital, Lady Atchison Hospital, Punjab Dental Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore General Hospital and Children’s Hospital, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital, Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Yakki Gate, Government Said Mitha Hospital, Government Shahdara Hospital in Lahore continued treatment services without any disruption.

The Academic Council of The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Lahore met to deliberate upon the issues and situation in the wake of ongoing strike by PG trainees under the banner of YDA.

There is no outstanding issue of The Children’s Hospital at the moment and Academic Council feels that this on-going strike is not justified which is affecting patient care and causing resentment in the public and parents. 

As per decision of the Academic Council, the supervisors contacted the PG trainees and their parents/guarantors. The PG trainees as well as their parents have agreed that there is no reason for this strike but they were forced to stay away because of the continuous harassment from the YDA. They also said that they feel insecure while performing their duties. They quoted the incident about a group of YDA doctors that went to different wards and forcefully compelled the duty doctors to leave their duty places. Moreover, another group went to OPD and forced the staff that was registering the OPD patients to stop their work immediately. 

The faculty strongly condemned this attitude and asked the disciplinary committee to investigate the matter and give their recommendations to the faculty on Saturday (today). The faculty has also requested all the PGs that they should join their duties immediately and asked the hospital administration to ensure their security by taking special measures. 

Heads of department/consultants will be responsible for the security of PGs and MOs while in their units. No YDA people will be allowed to enter the wards. The PGs shall contact their supervisors as and when needed in case of any harassment. 

The administration of the hospital will ensure precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident and in case YDA people try to enter hospital/wards forcefully, strict action will be taken by the hospital administration as per law. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of YDA’s leaders called on Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Secretary General Liaqat Baloch in Mansoora Friday night in a desperate attempt to muster support of the opposition parties to increase pressure on Punjab government in addition to crippling the healthcare system in the province.