LAHORE, Jan 18: Young doctors continued denying treatment to patients at OPDs of all state-run hospitals throughout the province on the third day of their strike on Friday as well.

The health department is planning to take action against striking young doctors on the basis of the lists sent by various teaching and district hospitals for violating the Essential Service Act.

The departmental action is likely to be taken against the doctors within few days, a source said.

A majority of doctors are activists of the Young Doctors Association, Punjab. The hospitals’ administrations have recommended action against the young doctors for disrupting health services in the name of ‘strike’.

The OPDs of many teaching hospitals remained closed due to the strike announced by the YDA to protest criminal action against young doctors in the aftermath of an incident of violence at DHQ Hospital in Gujranwala.

Several patients were referred to emergencies of hospitals which were already overcrowded. Consequently, most of the patients returned without getting any treatment.

YDA leaders demanded an impartial inquiry into the Gujranwala incident by senior medics of good repute.

They asked the government to reinstate the suspended or terminated doctors and withdraw criminal action against doctors of DHQ Hospital, Gujranwala.