YDA calls off strike after talks with Kh Salman Rafique

Lahore: All issues have been amicably resolved between the Health Department and Young Doctors Association (YDA) regarding the promotion of doctors, PG trainee paid jobs, roadmap for promotion into next grade as well as service structure of doctors. It was announced in a joint press conference of Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique and YDA office-bearers at Allama Iqbal Medical College, today.

Parliamentary Secretary Health Kh. Imran Nazir, Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, Director General Health Punjab Dr. Zahid Pervaiz and a large number of young doctors were present on the occasion.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that credit for resolution of all issues regarding young doctors amicably goes to Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Chief Secretary who gave guidelines and provided funds for the solution of the problems. He said that Chief Minister Punjab gave approval to 10202 new posts while created 800 new vacancies for resolving the issue of postgraduate trainee doctors. He said that Health Department has evolved a framework with timeline for the promotion of doctors from grade-17 to grade-20 and there will be no hurdle in this regard during the next 10 to 15 years.

Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik said that the cases of doctors awaiting promotion from grade 17 to 18 will be disposed of in the month of May for which dates for DPC have been fixed. Similarly, date upto June has been fixed for the promotion from grade 19 to 20. Jawad Rafique Malik further said that in case the need of writing ACRs of doctors for promotion arises, all reporting officers will be called to Lahore for two days for this purpose. He said that besides giving a historic pay package for doctors’ community, the government has also taken a number of steps for their welfare and the specialist doctors posted in tehsil headquarter hospitals will be given additional allowance of about 1.5 lakh rupees and those posted in DHQ hospitals  one lakh rupees in addition to their salaries. He said that in order to make basic health centers functional, the government is considering a proposal to recruit doctors upto the age of 63 age on contract or adhoc basis.

Kh. Imran Nazir said that the present leadership of YDA has played an important role in resolving the issues with the government. He said that it is the desire of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the government that steps should be taken for welfare of the doctors and resolving their matters regarding service structure of the doctors so that they should be no hurdle in the treatment of poor patients. Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique expressed his satisfaction over resolving the issues between YDA and Health Department.

A spokesman of YDA Dr. Aamir Bandesha said that there is a change in the situation four years ago and now there is maturity in YDA. He said that protest is the right of doctors, however, it is their endeavor that the working of the hospitals should not affect. Dr. Aamir Bandesha apologized personally on behalf of YDA on the difficulties faced by the people during the protest of YDA.