Daily Times

KARACHI: A hunger strike camp set up by doctors employed by the provincial government on contracts in support of their demand for regular appointment continued for the seventh day on Tuesday.

Protesting doctors are demanding regularisation of their jobs, timely promotions, implementation on service structure, issuance of hard area allowance, and release of outstanding salaries.

On Tuesday, the protesters gathered at the Karachi Press Club carrying placards inscribed with their demands. They said around 2,000 doctors with contractual appointments were aggrieved because of the provincial government’s failure to meet their demands.

A delegation of the Pakistan Medical Association Hyderabad chapter leaded by Dr Rafique-ul-Hassan Khokhar joined the hunger strike camp to show solidarity with the protesting doctors’ cause.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rafique said Sindh government was not implementing court’s orders in this regard. He said Sindh government had hired doctors of a contract basis and assured them of a regular appointment but it was not fulfilling its commitment.

He demanded that the Sindh Chief Minister and other authorities concerned should address the protesters’ grievances.

Pakistan Medical Association has shown its dismay over the indifference of the Sindh government towards what it says is a long standing issue of public-sector doctors in the province.

“It is very unfortunate that Sindh government has not shown any leniency towards the demands of the doctors. The apathy of the government is causing a lot of distress and unrest in the medical fraternity of the province of Sindh,” Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad, PMA secretary general said in a statement.

He demanded that Sindh government should come forward, realise its responsibility and meet demands of the doctors immediately to avoid any troublesome situation in future.

Published in Daily Times, February 21^st 2018.