YDA strike affects 30,000 patients daily

LAHORE: Around 30,000 patients are affected every day due to strike in Outdoor Patients Departments (OPDs) in public sector hospitals in Punjab on the call of Young Doctors Association (YDA).

The Punjab health department sources said here on Sunday that only in Mayo hospital,around 6,000 patients have been suffering due to the strike at OPDs by the young doctors.

Scores of patients in severe distress, talking to APP said that "We are being deprived of last hope of the government hospitals and now where we should go in our ailments".

PMA leaders and senior doctors however suggested to adopt ways other than the strike to record the protest by young doctors.

It may be mentioned here that some 120,000 patients had also been suffered due to week long strike called by the YDA in April last.

YDA Leader Dr.Salman Kazmi said that five meetings had so far been held with the officials of health department but all were remained inconclusive. He said that health department officials were not serious enough and adopted the agitation policy and started manhandling the doctors.

He vowed to continue strike at OPDs in all public sector hospitals of the Punjab.

On the other hand, the health department has termed the strike call of the YDA unjustified and illegal and sheer violation of the court orders.