RAWALPINDI: Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Saturday boycotted the outpatients department of Benazir Bhutto Hospital against termination of a postgraduate trainee doctor allegedly speaking about shortage of Oxygen. Outpatient Departments (OPDs) at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) were closed from 8am to 12 noon on Saturday.

Similarly, the young doctors who were deputed in various wards of the hospital also remained absent from duties despite several requests from the administration. No routine rounds of doctors were reported on Saturday. Upon this, the hospitals’ managements asked the senior doctors to check the patients who visited the hospitals from different parts of the city and adjoining villages with serious health complications. But, senior doctors were busy in RMU conference.

The officials of three government hospitals said that the health services partially hurt at government hospital due to the strike. Despite knowing about the protest in advance, the hospital management failed to make sure the presence of senior doctors at OPD. However, the emergency department was run as per routine and dealt with accident related cases.

“I came from Gujar Khan to get medicine for my daughter but no doctor was available in the hospital. There was no official to guide the patient who ran here and there in search of doctors,” said Nusrat Bibi. Mehmood Ahmed, a resident of Sadiqabad, said that he was suffering from the fever for last three days and the officials informed that there was boycottand you should come tomorrow.

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.“YDA Punjab has planned black ribbon day on Tuesday all over province and the announcement will be made in a day or two,” he said.

“The decision of Punjab Caretaker government sparked an unrest among the young doctors who wanted to save the career of a young doctor,” he said.

Punjab Caretaker government has terminated a Postgraduate Trainee (PGT) doctor serving in Pead 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 by 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. Meanwhile, YDA Rawalpindi chapter vehemently condemned the decision of the Punjab government and announced a massive protest against the government on Murree Road on next working day if the caretaker government failed to restore the services of the doctor.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2023