YDA ends strike, resolving healthcare crisis

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has decided to end their strike in government hospitals after two weeks of protests. The decision was made following a late-night meeting where the YDA general council discussed seeking legal protection against potential disciplinary actions from the health department. They aim to request the court to address their demands and investigate the recent fire incident at Sahiwal’s teaching hospital. Additionally, the YDA plans to challenge the suspension of doctors in court and advocate for their reinstatement.

Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered the YDA to immediately halt the strike. The Acting Chief Justice stressed the importance of doctors being present in hospitals rather than in court. YDA President Dr. Shabbir Niazi filed a petition to suspend the closure of postgraduate training until a final decision is reached.

Despite a citizen's plea against the strike being dismissed by the LHC, citing it as a government matter, the strike, which commenced on June 15 after the detention of some doctors post the Sahiwal hospital fire, has significantly disrupted healthcare services in Punjab. Non-emergency services have been affected, leading to surgery cancellations and impacting approximately one million patients.

In response, the Punjab government has urged the doctors to resume work and announced plans for new recruitments in the health sector to tackle the ongoing healthcare crisis.

The decision by the YDA to end their strike marks a significant development in the healthcare sector, aiming to restore normalcy in government hospitals and ensure the well-being of patients. The resolution of this issue highlights the importance of effective communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals and authorities to address challenges and uphold public health standards.