Sindh Doctors Observe Province-Wide Protest Demonstrations

KARACHI- Doctors working under the banner of Doctors Joint Action Committee, Sindh have observed complete strike throughout the province of Sindh, demanding the Government to raise their salaries, as per other provinces of Pakistan.

The strike call was given by Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Sindh, Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh and Functional Doctors Forum.

The doctors voiced out their demands that included an increase in their salaries, called out to acquire safety and protection at their workplaces, to go through pending promotions as per service structure and to eradicate corruption from within the Health Department of Sindh.

All OPD services were suspended at the Government hospitals of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Dadu, Jamshoro and other small cities of the province.



Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh also observed strike in JPMC, Civil Hospital, National Institute of Child Health, Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital, Sindh Government Hospital Korangi, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital and other associated health facilities. Province-wide protest demonstrations and non operational OPDs lead the patients to suffer from numerous problems who were present at the facility to receive medical care.

The protesting doctors warned the authorities that the sit in shall continue till their demands remain unmet.

Vice-President, YDA Sindh, Dr Waris and General Secretary, PMA Sindh, Dr Pir Manzoor Ali confirmed the demands kept in front of the Government. They both informed that the OPDs of hospitals, across Sindh shall remain suspended till the demands are fulfilled.

Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA-Karachi) supported the ongoing strike. Secretary Information PIMA Karachi, Dr Kashif Farooqi added that PIMA is against boycotting duties in hospitals as that affects the patients but Sindh Government's ignorant attitude has forced the doctors to take this step.

Furthermore, Dr Omer Sultan added that this strike will continue and duties shall remain suspended, till the Sindh Government accepts their demands. Failure to do so shall compel the doctors to boycott provision of health services within the Wards and Emergency Departments too.

However, the Emergency department was running in all the health facilities and surgeries were performed as per schedule.

Additional Chief Secretary Health, Dr Saeed Awan assured the delegation that their demands will be fulfilled after getting an approval from the Provincial Minister of Health, Sindh.