Daily Times

LAHORE: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Saturday staged protest rallies yet again against postgraduate induction policy in the provincial metropolis as well as across the province.

Young doctors threatened to continue protest until the Punjab government withdraws the central induction policy. The YDA blocked major roads in the provincial capital and other cities of the province to record their protest

Thousands of the patients, who had come from far-flung areas, suffered as outpatient departments (OPDs) at the six major government-run hospitals, including Jinnah Hospital, Children s Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the Lahore General Hospital remained close owing to the protest of young doctors.

According to an estimate, 15,000 patients turn up at the OPDs of major tertiary care hospitals of the provincial capital on a daily basis, and they found themselves nowhere after seeing OPDs closed. Moreover, OPDs at government hospitals across the province were also closed.

Patients and their attendants felt extremely disappointed when they had to return without treatment, while several others had to take their patients to private hospitals.

Patients and their attendants cursed the provincial government and young doctors for denying them basic right to healthcare services in the public sector hospitals. They were of the view that poor patients were suffering due to tussle between the young doctors and the government.

They condemned the provincial government for failing to solve the issue, saying the leaders did not depend on public sector hospitals for their treatment as they either went abroad or called doctors at their homes for medical advice.

They appealed to the government and the young doctors to resolve the issue and resume healthcare services in the public sector hospitals in the interest of the poor patients.

Meanwhile, the protesting doctors were carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands, and chanted slogans against the government for depriving doctors of their rights in the province. They warned of more protests if the government fails change central postgraduate induction policy. The protesters said that the cruel central induction policy imposed on the young doctors by the Punjab government was tantamount to usurp the rights of young doctors.

The YDA leaders, however, claimed that young doctors didn’t hold a strike or disrupt the healthcare services in hospitals as majority of doctors’ strength continued to provide healthcare services to the patients in emergency, indoor and outdoor wards of their respective hospitals. They claimed that doctors were performing duties in hospitals as usual, and no operations were postponed. However, it proved to be a hollow promise as patients were seen running from pillar to post get the required treatment.