RAWALPINDI, July 1: More than 15 doctors of Pakistan Army along with 27 demonstrators of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) will attend the patients at allied hospitals’ out-patient departments (OPDs) in the garrison city from Monday as negotiations between the YDA and Punjab government have failed.

“The doctors of army will perform duties at three allied hospitals till the end of young doctors’ strike,” said the RMC Principal and Chief Executive of three allied hospitals Dr Musaddiq Khan while talking to Dawn.

He said that five doctors of Pakistan Army each would be deployed at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital and Holy Family Hospital and added that army doctors would perform duties in uniform.

He also said the provincial government had also appointed 51 women medical officers in three hospitals of the city to tackle any unforeseen situation due to the ongoing strike. “These medical officers have been recruited through Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) and they had been posted at the allied hospitals in the city,” he explained.

Dr Khan assured that government would not leave the patients unattended.

“The allied hospitals kept the OPDs at the allied hospitals open on Sunday and the doctors remained present on duty,” he claimed. However, officials at the hospitals were of the view that patients did not come in great numbers considering Sunday as a weekly-off for the OPDs.

Director Health Rawalpindi division Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal said the provincial government had made all arrangements to run the district hospitals, Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospitals and Basic Health Units (BHUs) in the four districts of Rawalpindi division – Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum. He said the government wanted to run the hospitals as per routine for the uninterrupted provision of health facilities to the masses.

When contacted, Young Doctors Association (YDA) Punjab Chairman Dr Mohammad Haroon said the Punjab government had failed to run the OPDs in three allied hospitals of the city on Sunday despite making hectic efforts in this regard.

He said the negotiations between striking doctors and provincial government had failed and added the YDA was considering boycotting in-patient departments, operation theatres (OTs) and the emergency departments also and the decision, in this regard, would be finalised in a meeting late at night.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.