YDA to boycott emergency services in Punjab tomorrow

LAHORE: Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab, has announced withdrawing emergency services across Punjab on August 15.

YDA general-council has taken the decision owing to persistent standoff between the YDA and Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education (SHC&ME) Department to resolve the crisis amicably despite prolonged strike in outdoor and indoor wards in public sectors in Punjab on 13th consecutive day on Sunday. 

YDA central leadership Dr Maroof Vaince, Chairman Dr Haider Akhtar, Dr Salman Haseeb, while announcing the decisions of the general council, said the government was not serious in fulfilling legitimate demands of young doctors, who already have shown much flexibility in negotiations as opposed to secretariat’s stubbornness to crush young doctors. “Negotiations and victimisation of young doctors can’t go hand in hand,” they said, adding YDA strongly condemned the criminal silence of political leadership of Punjab over this issue. They said all responsibility of consequences of withdrawal of emergency services would lie on Secretary SHC&ME and Punjab government.

Meanwhile, Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education (SHC&ME) Department has termed the YDA’s threat for closure of emergency wards an inhuman act and it tantamount to oppression against ailing humanity. The spokesman said that YDA had an agreement with this department vis-à-vis resolving the issues of doctors’ community.

He said the department was not victimising, adding the department had only implemented the decisions of the respective institutions against individuals on disciplinary grounds such as causing disruption in healthcare services and adopting insulting behaviour with senior doctors and administrative officials of their respective hospitals.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) (Centre) has opposed Young Doctors Association’s announcement to close emergency wards from August 15 as it is against humanity and sanctity of the profession.  “Although the government’s inefficient and faulty policies are behind young doctors’ strike in hospitals, YDA needs to realise the ethical rule of “no refusal to life” in all the situations,” observed Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami, President PMA Center, Dr Qaiser Sajjad, General Secretary, while speaking at a press conference. 

The Central Council of PMA showed its deep concern on the apathy and indifferent attitude of the health department to solve the issues raised by the young doctors. The Central Council reiterated PMA’s firm stance “No Refusal To Life” and urge all the serving doctors to ensure emergency services at all hospitals at any cost in all the situations.

In the last 5 years, a total of 7 leading bureaucrats failed to run the affairs of health department in Punjab.