LAHORE: The Academic Council of Shaikh Zayed Hospital and Postgraduate Medical Institute has taken action against seven doctors and six other staff members for hampering smooth functioning of the healthcare facility by staging protests.

A general body meeting of the institute on Saturday also unanimously decided to terminate the contracts of two doctors, suspend the postgraduate training of four doctors, suspended from service a doctor and six other staff members, directing them to appear before an inquiry committee within a week and explain their position.

Dr Kamran Ashraf and Dr Qasim Ali, working on ad hoc basis in the blood bank, were relieved of their duties after being given one-month salary as per rules.

Postgraduate training of Dr Naveed Islam (histopathology), Dr Hamid Riaz and Dr Muhammad Shoaib (general surgery) and Dr Hafiz Ahmed Raza (paediatrics) was suspended.

Dr Muhammad Zafar Leghari (medical officer, anaesthesia), Sajjad Husain (anaesthesia assistant), Tahir Mahmood (senior technician, pharmacy), Muhammad Tariq (lab assistant), Khalil Ahmed (dish washer), Abid Iqbal (junior clerk), Tariq Saeed (office assistant) were suspended from service.

Meanwhile, Young Doctors Association’s (YDA) Shaikh Zayed Hospital chapter kept the outpatient department locked, causing inconvenience to patients. Joined by the paramedical staff, they also attempted to hamper treatment at the indoor wards of the hospital.

The YDA has been protesting for the construction of Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Medical College building and hostels while the paramedical staff has been demanding a service structure.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2018