In 2008, in response to very low salary and long duty hours and poor working conditions the doctors of Lahore started a very big movement which was organised by the newly formed Young Doctors Association Pakistan (YDAP). At that time the pay of a HO was eleven thousand rupees, while that of a PG trainee and MO was thirteen thousand Rupees.
Doctors of Lahore were soon joined by their colleagues all over the country. The government was forced to accept the demands of the young doctors. The pay of HO was increased to eighteen thousand rupees while that of MO/PG became twenty two thousand five hundred rupees. Most of the contract doctors of Punjab were regularised as a result of this movement.
Though this was a very big gain made by this movement, rising inflation and cost of living made it very difficult for young doctors to make ends meet. Living is exceptionally tough for PG trainees who have to often work for 48 hours, have no job security and are not allowed to do private practice. In a meager twenty two thousand rupees they have to rent accommodation, pay for their children's education, and bear the expenses of food, clothing and fuel.
The future for FCPS trainees today seems very bleak as compared to ten years ago. In 2000 there were just 2000 fellows of CPSP. However today there are 11000 fellows and 35000 PGs. In ten years time it is expected that 50000 follows of CPSP will be in the market.
Already the value of FCPS has been decreased greatly. Ten years ago, upon obtaining on FCPS, a doctor was expected to assume the post of a consultant. Today hardly the post of a Senior Registrar (SR) can be secured. One can only imagine the situation ten years in the future.
It is not that we have an over production of doctors. In Pakistan the population per doctor is 1218, one of the lowest in the world. The reason for such a crisis is that the health sector has been neglected so much that no system exists to accommodate and utilize the services of these doctors. Much of the health facilities which exist today, were present thirty years ago. It is expected that the same level of health facility will exist ten years in the future. This will result in a lot of unemployment of even specialist doctors. These were all the concerns and dissatisfactions of the young doctors where were boiling up fast. Four thousand specialist doctors left the country in search of better opportunities.
Today Pakistan health budget is just 0.3% of our total budget. As a result of these patient care was neglected through out the country in the government sector. Many of the diseases are due to lack of sewerage and waste disposal system. The health of the nation is at the verge of a catastrophe.