Doctors, nurses and paramedics at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center (JPMC) on Monday resorted to a two hour token strike with no work at any of the hospitals' department. The turnout of the patients was also comparatively low as the Joint Action Committee of JPMC had communicated their decision through prominent display of banners inscribed with the decision and their demands, during past one week.
The medical professionals of JPMC, however, ensured their presence at the emergency and accident department in the morning. They in accordance to their pledge attended the patients at different out-patient departments and laboratories for an additional two hours in the afternoon.
Some of the people who had little inkling about the distress among the hospital staffers, however, expressed their dejection and tribulation as they had come from far off areas to the tertiary care center. Joint Action Committee of JPMC said they will continue with their two hour token strike till Wednesday and would announce their next action plan in accordance to response of the concerned authorities. Dr Mohammad Usman of the Joint Action Committee said the announcement made by incumbent minister, relayed by a channel needed to be appropriately substantiated.
"We expect the minister as well as concerned authorities for a clear cut announcement about autonomous status for JPMC as well as National Institute of Child Health and National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases," he said. He said the doctors and the allied personnel are keen to avoid any extreme decision and expect that their concerns are duly addressed, foremost being conversion of JPMC, NICH and NICVD as a federal university of health sciences.