Patients across South Punjab suffered a lot after Young Doctors Association (YDA) went on province-wide strike boycotting their services at the outpatient departments (OPDs) of Nishtar Hospital, Civil Hospital, Children Complex Multan and other government and public hospitals in Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Divisions.
The YDA expanded their boycott to the rest of the Punjab on Monday against transfer of 45 postgraduate trainee doctors and medical officers (MOs) of Services Hospital by the provincial health department. The strike caused intense anguish among the patients and attendants, as the operations, indoor and outdoor services remained suspended for the fifth day across Punjab, with the government taking no alternate steps. The doctors have vowed to continue their strike till the withdrawal of the orders. The protesters said they would keep the OPDs of all government hospitals closed till the settlement between the government and YDA.