The outpatient departments (OPD) across Punjab including Lahore remained closed as The Young Doctors Association (YDA) entered its sixth day of protest against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reform Act on May 7.
The protest of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff struck a lot of problems for the patients.
Patients suffered a great deal as OPDs in government hospitals were closed down in all major cities, including, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, and Faisalabad. Young doctors even protested and chanted slogans in Rawalpindi and other cities of Punjab. Doctors protested in the government hospitals of Faisalabad where frustrated patients returned to their homes as outdoors were closed down.
The health department formed a committee on MTI act to resolve the matter which include stopping of the proposed privatization of hospitals and implementation of MTI act, announcement of the service structure and provision of security to doctors. The committee comprises of Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Prof. Khalid Masud Gondal, Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) Prof. Dr. Aamir Zaman Khan and Special Health Secretary, along with the representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and young doctors.
The committee has been advised to submit recommendations within a week. On the other hand, the resolution has been submitted in the Punjab Assembly against the privatization of the hospitals.
The resolution was submitted by Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) member Hina Pervaiz Butt which stated that the opposition parties will not be allowed to privatize the hospitals. The YDA representatives said that protest will prevail until the demands are met.