Young Doctors End Strike After Successful Negotiations With Govt

Kamran Ali

Peshawar:  The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) ended their protest against non-payment of salaries following successful negotiations with the KP Health Advisor and Health Secretary.

As part of the agreement between the doctor organisations and the government, the timely payment of salaries for trainee medical officers was assured in writing. There is also an agreement to equalise the salaries of doctors in Punjab and the Federation.

Moreover, Public Service Commission jobs will be advertised soon, and acknowledgement of Lady Reading Hospital as well as other demands is also agreed upon. Furthermore, the issue of Category B Abbottabad was also discussed and it was assured that it would be resolved soon.

On this occasion, the YDA specially thanked Health Advisor Dr.Riaz Anwar and announced the end of the protest.

Young Doctors Association (YDA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa office-bearers, including hundreds of trainee doctors, organised a protest against the non-payment of medical officers’ salaries.

YDA Spokesperson Dr Faisal said, “Boycott of elective services continues across the province. Salaries have not been paid on schedule for the last three months, and even this month, no wage information has been provided.”

The province has more than 6,000 Trainee Medical Officers (TMOs,) according to the spokesman, adding that due to recent inflation, trainee doctors are facing serious difficulties because they have stopped receiving pay.

Spokesperson Muhammad Asim informed that OPD and elective services are affected in Lahore due to strike by TMOs.

Hundreds of TMOs are working in Lahore and they play an important role in timely treatment of patients. In addition to outpatient department (OPD), inpatient treatment is also being disrupted, Asim added.