Islamabad - The young doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) continued their protest yesterday against the poor working conditions and lack of facilities for the patients.

They threatened to boycott health services at the largest referral government hospital of the federal capital if their demands are not fulfilled.

The Young Doctors’ Association has presented a set of demands to the government and is protesting for two hours daily to press the government for acceptance of its demands.  Nurses and non-medical staff also joined the protest yesterday that was started on Friday. The healthcare providers have been demanding security for the staff, accommodation facilities for doctors, release of salaries to the unpaid staff, 100 percent increase in postgraduate trainees and house officers’ gross stipend, service structure with time-scale promotion of all health professionals, installation of air conditioners in wards and hostels, and special incentives for the staff working in critical areas, just like the KP health professionals. The doctors said they may give the call to protest at D-Chowk, boycotting their duties if their demands are not accepted. “We will only end our protest after seeing formal endorsement by the government that seems to be unlikely as it is not serious to resolve the longstanding issues of the patients and the healthcare providers,” they said.