Patients suffer due to doctors strike

RAWALPINDI: The patients here continued to suffer as Young Doctors Association (YDA) went on strike against the provincial health department decision of transfers and new postings at services hospitals.

All teaching hospitals have remained closed for the last one week causing immense hardships for patients and their attendants. The young doctors are on strike in OPDs of the government hospitals throughout the province on the call of the Young Doctors Association (YDA), Punjab Chapter.

The doctors have withdrawn their services from OPDs of Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital from Monday.

On an average the allied hospitals in town accommodate over 4,000 patients at their OPDs daily, and the majority of these patients cannot afford treatment at private clinics or hospitals.

According to details, 671 young doctors at government run hospitals in the province including 22 in Rawalpindi were transferred by Health Department to Basic Health Units and other hospitals.

The department officials said the transfers were a regular feature and only those doctors were transferred who had completed their training.

However, the YDA officials termed the move illogical and alleged the government wanted to weaken the association.

Dr Umer Saeed, YDA Rawalpindi President, said the senior doctors would not be able to work in OPDs without the help of young doctors. (APP)