Action is taken only against culprits of Gujranwala incident:Kh Salman

Lahore: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that PML-N government has granted approval of the service structure for doctors for the first time, for which doctors had been waging their struggles from the last several decades. He said that government has implemented half of the already decided points regarding service structure, while remaining points are also being implemented, therefore repeated protest calls by young doctors in this regard are beyond understanding.

He expressed these views while giving briefing to the media representatives regarding progress made in service structure of doctors, here today. Special Secretary Health Babar Hayat Tarrar and other officers were present on the occasion. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that Punjab Chief Minister setup a committee under the chairmanship of Senator Ishaq Dar and public representatives, government officers and doctors included in the committees gave approval of doctors’ service structure unanimously after continuing efforts for many months which was formally signed by government authorities and representatives of doctors organizations. He said that matters relating to service structure cannot be implemented in one day, because it takes time, however government is endeavoring to implement all these points as soon as possible. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that for the first time dental surgeon have been included in specialist cadre and are being given Rs.4000 special monthly allowance for grade 17 and 18, while Rs.6000 monthly are being paid to the next grade. He said that the new indexation formula has been put in place by increasing the emoluments of postgraduate trainee doctors.

Khawaja Salman Rafique further said that for the first time, approval have been granted for promoting medical officers to the teaching cadre, whereas lists have been prepared to grant promotion to FRCS and FCPS doctors as senior registrars. He said the present government has promoted thousands of doctors in the next grade and new jobs have been provided by creating thousand vacancies.

Talking to media, Special Secretary Babar Hayat Tarrar said that the formula of holding six meetings every year for the promotion of doctors is being implemented while approval of paid seats of house officers have also been granted. He said a group consisting of senior professors is considering to solve the working experience issue, so that issue of doctors coming on senior positions from private sectors despite less experience can be solved.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that it was decided in service structure agreement that doctors would not resort to strike and will not leave the patients unattended the young doctors have not followed this agreement and resorted to physical violence against senior doctors and media representatives along with giving strike call to all hospitals. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the health department has taken legal action against 17 doctors including doctors involved in Gujranwala incidents and one doctor from Services hospital;. He said that no one would be allowed to create any hurdle in providing medical care to the patients and resorting to strike in hospitals, and strict legal action will be taken against them. He said that it is our endeavor to resolve all issues through negotiations while weekly meetings would be held to review points relating to doctors’ service structure.