LAHORE: The dispute of termination of 13 doctors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer and Research Centre (SKMC&RC) between the institute and the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab took an ugly turn on Friday when ‘both parties’ clashed at a local hotel where the institute was holding an international cancer symposium.

Three of the young doctors received minor injuries during the clash.

The SKMC&RC had terminated the doctors, including the head of a paediatrics cancer unit, for violating its discipline and policies. The YDA Punjab had been protesting for the last one month or so against the SKMC&RC’s decision by setting up a sit-in camp outside it.

Also read: YDA for reinstatement of doctors

On finding that its protest was going unnoticed, the YDA had announced raising the issue in SKMC&RC’s symposium being organised at a local hotel on Friday.

Witnesses said the clash took place when over 40 young doctors tried to participate in the symposium.

According to witnesses, the security officials deputed there stopped them outside the venue. After exchange of harsh words, both the doctors and the security men scuffled and three young doctors, namely Dr Shabbir Chaudhry, Dr Saad and Dr Sabir, received minor injuries.

On seeing the situation getting out of control, the hotel management called police. The personnel from the nearby police stations reached there in a large number.

Civil Lines Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Sarwar and the DSPs concerned also rushed to the hotel. After a brief clash, the police forced the doctors to leave the hotel.

The young doctors continued agitation outside the hotel till 2pm and later dispersed after negotiations with the senior police officials.

Talking to Dawn, YDA senior representative Dr Amir Bandesha claimed the doctors wanted to raise the issue of termination of their colleagues with the SKMC&RC senior management present in the symposium and all of them were registered with the symposium organisation as delegates. He alleged the SKMC&RC had deputed the security men of the institute to stop the victim doctors and the YDA representatives from participating in the symposium.

He alleged the hospital management had terminated doctors without any justification, putting their future at risk. He said the YDA was protesting against this injustice demanding reinstatement of the sacked doctors but to no avail.

SKMC&RC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Faisal Sultan said the young doctors’ attempt to disrupt the symposium was regrettable.

Talking to the media after the incident, he said the SKMC&RC had called off the symposium ‘due to the disruption caused by the young doctors’.

He said the cancer symposium was an educational and research-based international event where delegates from several countries had gathered to share their research and expertise.

“But the young doctors started violent protests and tried to hijack the situation which caused bad name for the country,” he regretted. Consequently, the symposium organising committee had decided to cancel the event, he maintained.

“This is the whole nation’s loss as this symposium was the premier oncology meeting in the region and its cancellation is a tragedy for science and medical education besides being a source of national embarrassment for us all,” Dr Faisal said, adding the SKMCH&RC enjoyed respect and credibility not only in Pakistan but also abroad but the young doctors were bent upon bringing it disrepute and disrespect.

He made it clear that the hospital management would not be blackmailed by anyone or any group which would want to sabotage the image of the organisation. He concluded the institute would not reinstate the terminated doctors at any cost as action was taken against them according to the laid down rules and policies.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2014