LAHORE, April 2: The Punjab government has tightened the noose around the office-bearers of Punjab chapter of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) and the striking doctors as the health department issued a notification on Saturday for the enforcement of Essential Service Act 1958 on its all employees, including senior medics. Sources say the Act enhances the powers of the teaching institutions’ heads who now may dismiss from service any employee found committing serious violation of service rules.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Sheikh said the Section 4 of the Act says the head of teaching institution may dismiss from service any employee for remaining absent or indulging in misconduct. An employee thus dismissed from service could only seek remedy from the court, Sheikh added.

He said the Act also strictly barred the health department employees from taking part in any political or association activity like personnel and officers of Army and Police.

The health department issued the notification after the Punjab cabinet gave approval for the application of rules on health department employees in a meeting

presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday night.

The decision was taken in the wake of a month-long strike by the young doctors,reportedly resulting in loss of livesof several patients in various public sector hospitals.

Health Additional Secretary (Technical) Mushtaq Sulehria said the Essential Service Act 1958 had been imposed on the health department employees with effect from Saturday.

He said after the Act’s application the institution heads were fully authorised to dismiss from service any employee found absent from duty without solid reason. He said no employee could go on strike or leave his place of posting or duty or take part in any other activity which created hurdles in provision of healthcare services to the patients.