Calling a fresh strike for an indefinite period,
(Angry) Young Doctors’ Association cheerleaders for the Lahore North to Lahore
South chapters have strongly criticised the government, in particular, and the
health department, in general, for not giving them any solid (or otherwise)
excuse to go on a strike in the last one week.
Addressing a press conference outside the Meo
Hospital’s emergency on Monday, several young adult activists of the (Angry)
Young Doctors’ Association announced resuming the strike after a gap of one
week. Their last strike continued for 30 days for the acceptance of a charter
of demands. Their demands included the removal of all medical superintendents
of Lahore hospitals. When the health minister accepted their demand, they came
up with the demand of the removal of newly-appointed medical superintendents.
The health minister instantly and happily accepted their new demand too, and
the new medical superintendents were removed within four hours of their
posting. The instant acceptance of their demands, however, offended the young
adults, and they turned against the minister. Within 24 hours, they locked all
hospitals and demanded the removal of the health minister. They also put the
condition that the minister not be removed instantly rather the government
initiate dialogue with them. When the government also agreed to start dialogue
with them, the old practitioner of strikes boycotted dialogue for the reason
that the government did not know the art of lingering strike issues. After rounds
of dialogues, the association called off strike last week but only to resume it
after one week.
This time, the cause for their strike is that
there is no reason for the strike.
“The association condemns the government for
accepting our all demands, and trying to create a crisis in our ranks by
sending us back to hospital wards,” said the association president, who did his
last medical duty six months ago.
“Strike is our basic right; patients should also
go on strike,” he thundered.
A group of senior doctors condemned frequent
strikes by the (Angry) Young Doctors' Association, saying that in their
absence, senior doctors had to attend patients.
"Young doctors should never go on strike.
They should know when they reach senior cadre, they will have lots of time for
rest," the group said with one voice.
The group, however, soon retracted the statement
after young adults threatened them with reaction.
The health minister was ready to comment on the
strike, but she said her instant reaction might anger the young lot, so she was
delaying her statement.
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