Body recommended to redress YDA grievances

LAHORE: A committee on demands of Young Doctors Association (YDA) has recommended bringing disputed cases under Central Induction Policy to Academic Councils and referred to the PG Admission Committee to redress the grievances of the candidates.

“The yardstick of regulatory authority for the induction of both undergraduate and postgraduate trainees should be followed,” recommended the committee in a meeting to deliberate on the demands of Young Doctors Association (YDA) held at University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

The following recommendations of the committee are forwarded for further necessary action: In Ahmedpur Sharqia incident, the committee appreciated the timely and appropriate response by the government in the management of the burn victims of oil tanker blast at Ahmedpur Sharqia. Most of the doctors and government officials, including Minister SHC&ME & Secretary SHC&ME were working on Eid day.

The establishment of burn centres in various cities of Punjab was a foresight that proved extremely beneficial in this incident. The three burn centres at Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad are doing good and are being converted into centres of excellence. The committee also recommended the establishment of one more burn centre in South Punjab.

On the issue of harassment of lady doctors in Sahiwal, it was stated that the issue was basically between the local administration and hospital/ medical college management. As soon as the issue was brought into the notice of the SHC&ME department, the department took a prompt action and issued immediate notifications to all teaching institutions across Punjab to ensure that no female doctor and female student should be deputed other than official healthcare services. A prompt action was also taken against the individuals responsible in Sahiwal incident and result of the inquiries against them is being awaited.

On increasing incidents of security lapses in hospitals, the SHC&ME department is already concerned regarding this issue and has therefore developed a draft bill named “Violence against Healthcare Professionals” to be presented in the parliament. This Act shall provide security to all healthcare professionals at all healthcare delivery establishments in the province.

On the issue of PPSC 2013, the government has already set up a committee around two weeks ago under the chairmanship of Prof Dr Aftab Mohsin, Principal Gujranwala Medical College to look into the matter in detail and give recommendations at the earliest.

With regard to reversal of victimisation of young doctors, the committee recommended that the doctors concerned may put up their grievances through applications to the SHC&ME department for redress.

On the issue of service structure implementation, including time scale promotion and all other agreed points, the committee recommended that the implementation of service structure may be expedited. In the light of that agreement about 2012 medical officers, they should put forward their grievances to the SHC&ME department and action may be taken accordingly.