KARACHI – The Punjab government should immediately send back army doctors to their army health facilities, and start negotiating with the doctors on strike to reinstate the collapsed healthcare system in Punjab, while army is not a solution to any problem at all
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Police action against doctors and the use of brutal force against unarmed young doctors is totally unacceptable. The PMA believes that doctors should never go on strike for their demand as it is against the oath of the doctors and it does not help patients, these views were expressed by secretary general PMA Centre, Dr Mirza Ali Azhar, while addressing a Press conference, held at the PMA House here on Monday. PMA Sindh general secretary Dr Pir Manzoor and PMA Karachi General Secretary Dr Qazi Wasiq were also present on the occasion.
Dr Azhar said that the PMA was extremely concerned about the doctor’s strike in Punjab and the police action against doctors by the government of Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention here that the health system in Punjab has been collapsed due to strike of more than 24,000 doctors. On the other hand, the Punjab government has sought support of the army medical corps to handle the situation.
He said, “Young doctors are demanding a proper pay scale, promotion scheme and career structure for which they are struggling for last many months. Government of Punjab has promised career structure with a change salary structure but deferred to implement. Punjab government has also started massive media campaign against doctors.”
The PMA believes that the demand of young doctors are genuine but the method of its implementation is not correct. “We have advised all the doctors not to act against the interest of the patient but at the same time, we demand that the government of Punjab should act immediately and accept all the demands of young doctors in the interest of the patients, people and profession.”
“The present police action of Punjab government will cause massive brain drain of the doctors to overseas countries. Our country is already facing serious crises and shortage of male doctors. After this action, another wave of immigration is imminent and it will happen. PMA suggests that the Punjab government should immediately act in the interest of patient and people. “We also demand unconditional apology from the Punjab government for their brutal attack on the doctors,” he said.
On the other hand, the leaders of Pakistan Medical Association Sindh, Young Doctors Association Sindh and Sindh Doctors Welfare Association strongly condemn the highhandedness shown against the medical fraternity in Punjab.
In a joint statement, PMA Sindh president Dr Samrina Hashmi, SDWA Sindh President Dr Mujhtaba Memon and YDA Sindh president Dr Abbas Ali Shah said that this dilemma of service structure was in discussion for some time now, and the YDA Punjab was given assurance few weeks back that all their valid and logical demands will be fulfilled. “But nothing has happened and government, circumvented from its assurances. Instead of taking the path of negotiations, the bureaucracy and government showed their power, they have even gone to the extreme of inducting army medical core for the services.”
They also held them as if they have done a sin of highest grade and are being arrested and tortured. They are being threatened not to be given any job, will be black-listed for jobs in federal and local government and also they will be notified internationally as social criminals.
Taking these abnormal behaviours in account, we show our support to medical fraternity, as most of the demands made by them are legal and logical.
