Rawalpindi - A large number of young doctors registered their strong protest against the government of Punjab for not accepting their demands.
The demands include raise in salaries and improved service structure. The protestors also blocked Benazir Bhutto Road for traffic and chanted slogans against the government and health ministry.
According to details, more than 100 young doctors, including lady doctors, led by Dr Haider Akhter, Dr Umer Warriach, Dr Saad Cheema, Dr Zubair Saeed and Dr Shoaib Ahmed gathered outside Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) on Benazir Bhutto Road and staged a protest demonstration and sit-in.
The protestors were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the government. They alleged government for not fulfilling the promise made during a meeting with office-bearers of Young Doctors Association in Lahore a year ago. YDA Rawalpindi office-bearer Dr Haider Akhtar while talking to media persons said that YDA demanded pay raise as was promised one year ago by the provincial government and improved service structure. He said that the government had not materialised its promises.
He said that YDA is on roads to highlight the imposition of 15 percent cut in health budget. He said that limited medicines are available in the hospitals. “The teaching hospitals are not properly equipped with latest machinery as there is no MRI machine in BBH,” he said.
On the other hand, the patients at OPD suffered a lot due to protest demonstration. Most of the people had to go back to their houses without getting treatment.
Meanwhile, despite having knowledge about the protest earlier, the hospital management failed to make sure the presence of the senior doctors at the OPD. However, the emergency department was functional as per its routine.