PESHAWAR: Representatives of various groups of doctors have demanded of the provincial government to ensure induction of all the 1,355 doctors, who had applied to Postgraduate Medical Institute in November 2019, in different hospitals as trainee medical officers (TMOs) to save their future.

The doctors warned to start a protest campaign after one week for acceptance of their demand.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Friday, Dr Qasim Ahmed, Dr Muddasir Afridi and others urged the government to accommodate the young doctors, who had passed the FCPS part-1 examination and fulfilled the criteria for induction as TMOs to complete the mandatory training in teaching hospitals for taking the part-II examination in different specialties.

They said of the 1,355 doctors having applied to Postgraduate Medical Institute only 423 (367 on merit and 56 on quota basis) were notified for induction, and the rest of them were neglected.

They said the doctors had time and again contacted the officials concerned but they did not resolve their issue rather advised them to approach the provincial government. They said the government was least bothered to pay any heed towards their problem.

The doctors said January 31 was the last date for registration for the specialisation course. We will start a sit-in outside the assembly building for an indefinite period, they warned.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020