December 12, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: The trainee doctors of the Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) launched their protest on Wednesday to press for immediate increase in their stipends.

They also decided to form a body called Association of Trainee Doctors of FGSH, the office-bearers of which will be finalized in Thursday’s meeting.

The trainee doctors will write letters to President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and invite their attention towards their grievances.

The doctors have approved a plan under which they will approach the heads of different political parties including Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Imran Khan and other leaders and request them to raise their voice in the National Assembly for the redressal of their grievances.

They also plan to send a delegation of trainee doctors to MNA Mian Mohammad Aslam and apprise him of their problems.

A hospital source told Dawn that two chapters of the newly-formed association would be formed; one at the FGSH and another at Pims.

Last year the Pims’ trainee doctors had observed a week-long protest, demanding an increase in their stipends and payment of arrears. The trainee doctors on Wednesday protested by wearing black bands around their arms. They, however, continued to perform their duties at the emergency ward and the out-patient department of the FGSH. At the end of their protest, the doctors offered a collective Dua.

A delegation of trainee doctors also met the medical superintendent (MS) of the FGSH, Javaid Chaudhry. The MS heard the trainee doctors and appreciated them for deciding to protest in a civilized way without discontinuing their duties and not creating any trouble for the administration as well as patients.

Mr Chaudhry, however, informed the protesting doctors that he had suggested to the health ministry to increase the monthly stipend of the Trainee Residential Medical Officers (TRMOs) to Rs8,000 and that of house officers to Rs6,200. But, the health ministry in its final recommendation to the finance ministry had approved Rs6,200 for the TRMOs and Rs5,000 for the house officers.

The MS also wore black band to show solidarity with the doctors.

The delegation also met different consultants and senior doctors who assured them of their cooperation.

Later, the doctors gathered in the auditorium where some doctors suggested to go for a full-fledged strike to press for their demands.