The Young Doctors Association have simple demands: They declare a need for a revised service structure, the provision of free medicine along with diagnosis facilities for deserving patients and the facility of house jobs to graduates of private medical facilities at public sector teaching hospitals. After Sunday’s demonstration, the contention arose once more and created an environment of tension and lack of cooperation between doctors and the provincial government of Punjab. Despite agreement on the revised service structure, no serious implementation has come forth – only causing more anxiety in the medical community.
The protests led by the YDA are nothing new; last year in August, it demonstrated against the Punjab government’s decision to withdraw around 192 house job seats across the province. The termination of those seats led to sit-ins in public venues, condemnations issued by the medical community and, obviously, a wider rift between the government and the doctors. Other issues of conflict between both parties also involve the structure of income for doctors; the need for an increment is stated and reinforced with every protest. Although promises are made (Lord knows how frequently we are inundated with those), they fail to come through.
It would be, however, unfair to say the blame of the entire fiasco lies squarely on the government; our doctors have displayed jarring irresponsibility with frequent demonstrations that have directly affected the lives of patients in desperate need of medical attention. At the end of the day, the most vulnerable group tethered into this issue consists of men and women, both young and old, from far off villages and other remote areas seeking medical help in the provincial capital. With ceaseless strife – and strike – they continue to suffer. The government as well as the doctors must find a common ground instead of more aggravation.