LAHORE – The Young Doctors Association continued hunger strike at a camp outside Services Hospital on sixth day on Saturday to press for the demands.
Annoyed over the indifference of the government, protesting doctors will stage a demonstration at the inaugural ceremony of Metro Bus Service on Sunday (today). Two protesting doctors were taken to Emergency of Services Hospital after their health deteriorated. Like the previous days, many were treated at the camp as they refused to leave protesting colleagues under any circumstances.
YDA Spokesman said that the hunger strike would continue till death or acceptance of all demands. He reiterated that the doctors were determined to continue hunger strike till death or acceptance of demands relating to welfare of patients and the medical community. He said that health of Dr Usman Dar and Wakeel deteriorated and they were shifted to Services Hospital for necessary treatment. He said that there was serious resentment in the community over indifference of Punjab Health Department. He said that the doctors would besiege the venue of inaugural ceremony of MBS and they would try to meet Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said that the government would be responsible for the consequences if doctors were forcibly stopped from staging a demonstration and meeting the CM
After dismissal of 90 doctors on Friday, the Punjab Health Department removed another 68 from the service on the charges of continuous absence from duties. As per the officials, these doctors have nothing to do with the hunger strike of YDA Punjab and they were absent for the last one and a half year. They revealed that the department was carrying out proceedings against 295 doctors and all legal requirements would be fulfilled while taking action against these doctors.
KEMU VC appointed: After approval from Punjab Governor Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mehmood, Punjab Health Department has appointed Prof Faisal Masood as Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University and Prof Gen (retd) Muhammad Aslam as VC University of Health Sciences. A notification to this effect has been issued on Saturday.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif returned the summary to the Health Department with the direction to make necessary changes in recommendations. The department forwarded the revised summary to the Punjab CM which he forwarded to the Governor House for final approval. The Governor signed the summary and the same was sent to the Health Department for issuance of notification.
As per the officials, the CM returned the summary due to some discrepancies and the process completed after fulfilling all the legal requirements.
Top slot of KEMU was lying vacant since long and Pro VC Prof Assad Aslam was holding the office of the VC. Prof I A Naveed was performing the duties of Acting VC UHS after removal of Prof Hussain Mubashir.