The Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Friday continued its strike at Punjab government hospitals for the 10th consecutive day against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Reforms Act. OPDs at hospitals across Punjab are closed due to the YDA strike causing problems for patients. In Lahore, activists of the YDA along with para medical staff staged protest at different hospitals to press the government for acceptance of their demands.
The YDA representatives said their strike at OPDs would continue till the acceptance of their demands which include stopping of the alleged privatisation of hospitals and implementation of MTI Act, announcement of the service structure and provision of security to doctors. They criticized the administration of Nishtar Hospital in Multan for announcing action against protesting doctors.
A spokesman of provincial health department said that neither the government has any intention to privatize any medial institution nor it is going to privatize any medical teaching institution. Some elements are trying to blackmail the government by increasing the difficulties for poor patients in government hospitals for achieving nefarious political designs, he said.
The spokesman said that Medical Teaching Institutions Amendment Act will help improve the standard of education in medical institutions. This act will be implemented in five teaching hospitals and third-party evaluation will be carried out after one year. Young doctors should call off their strike keeping in view the sanctity f holy month of Ramazan.