SAHIWAL: The Young Doctors Association’s (YDA) local chapter has postponed its protest on the intervention of the Sahiwal Medical College’s Academic Council.

YDA Sahiwal head Shoaib Zafar confirmed that there was an ‘agreement’ to the effect. Prof Zafar H. Tanveer, the Sahiwal Medical College principal, said matters would be improved within 10 days.

After establishment of the SMC in 2012, the District Headquarters hospital was upgraded. Technically speaking, after being affiliated with the SMC, its management went from medical superintendent to principal, who is also heading the Academic Council. This resulted in a tussle between the DHQ hospital’s previous management headed by MS and new set-up under the principal.

After the hospital upgradation, many doctors came and formed the YDA’s local chapter which of late was not satisfied with the existing working environment, management style and poor infrastructure. It announced that it would go on protest to have its charter of demands implemented. The demands included better teaching environment in DHQ hospital, availability of medicines in OPD and wards and inquiry against MS for allegedly lobbying against senior faculty members.

As the doctors went on strike, Prof Zafar met them and invited them for negotiation. Raja Mansoor, additional secretary health, is said to have pressured the hospital management to listen to the demands of young doctors.

This correspondent visited hospital and saw young doctors working in wards and OPD. A patient from Farid Town said X-ray machine was not working and he was referred by emergency staff to Qayyum Hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2017