LAHORE – The Young Doctors Association continued strike at OPDs on the fourth day on Saturday, adding to the patients’ pains.
The Punjab Health Department terminated five doctors including YDA Punjab President Dr Javaid Aheer for instigating colleagues to go on strike and for creating hurdles in provision of healthcare facilities at OPDs.  The YDA has announced strike at OPDs and provide healthcare facilities at camps outside the hospitals until acceptance of demands. The YDA established its protest camps outside OPDs that were removed by the management, causing difficulties for the patients and their attendants.
Protesting doctors also took away registers from OPDs, making the staff unable to issue receipts. Hospital laboratories refused to carryout tests suggested by protesting doctors at makeshift camps.
Frustrated due to failure of strike, the doctors misbehaved with those continuing duties at OPDs and threatened the seniors of dire consequences. The protesting doctors misbehaved with Prof Khalid Masood Gondal and other seniors at Mayo Hospital. Relatives of patients also protested against hooliganism of young doctors and demanded the government to take stringent action against culprits to end the issue once for all.
They said that hospitals should be freed from habitual protesters and only those who revere the profession should be inducted in service.
The Health Department said that it was carrying out proceedings against Dr Aheer under PEEDA Act and after an inquiry, the department terminated him, Dr Shadab and Dr Ahmed Zeeshan from service for torturing employees to close down OPD of Children’s Hospital.
Ad hoc senior registrar Dr Zeeshan Khan and Dr Sikandar were also terminated for allegedly hindering provision of healthcare facilities to the people. Management of hospitals is preparing list of absent doctors and those forcing others to go on strike.