RAWALPINDI: Young Doctors Association Rawalpindi Chapter on Thursday staged a protest against the termination of a doctor of children ward allegedly for speaking about shortage of oxygen.

The young doctors closed the OutPatients Department and staged a protest within the premises of Benazir Bhutto Hospital and ended the protest peacefully.

YDA President Dr Humayun Warriach told Dawn that the YDA demanded to restore the services of the doctor as he spoke about the shortage while talking to the attendants of patients and the video went viral.

He said the doctor was guiding the attendant of the patient to talk to the hospital administration as he would switch off the oxygen to the patients in the peads department.

He said that there was issue of the oxygen and it was informed to the administration by 81 doctors and the government could check the record of that day. He said though no death was reported due to the shortage of oxygen, the problem was there on that day.

He said that termination means the end of the career of the doctor who spend many years in this profession. He said the doctor was innocent and inquiry was held without any justification.

He said that doctor did not claim that the shortage of oxygen led to death of any body.

“The decision of the Punjab caretaker government on the other hand sparked an unrest among the young doctors who announced to stage a massive protest on Murree Road in a day or two,” he said.

Punjab Caretaker government has terminated a Postgraduate Trainee (PGT) doctor serving in Peada Emergency of Benazir Bhutto Hospital allegedly for speaking about shortage of Oxygen.

The doctor, identified as Dr Hafiz Mudassir Ali (PGT), was terminated in light of an inquiry report conducted by a three-member committee formed on orders of the Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi.Secretary Government of the Punjab Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department has issued a notification in this regard.

Three member committee, headed by Chairman Dr Asad Shabbir (Pediatrics BBH), had summoned and recorded statements of as many as 10 doctors and paramedics.

Meanwhile, YDA Rawalpindi chapter vehemently condemned the decision of the Punjab government and announced to stage a massive protest demonstration against the government on Murree Road in a day or two if the caretaker provincial government failed to restore the services of the doctor.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2023