Doctor’s strike continues after failed negotiation with Sindh Health Secretariat

Karachi: Negotiations between the representatives of the Joint Action Committee of Doctors and Secretary Health, Sindh, Saeed Awan, for seeking an end to the ongoing doctors’ strike throughout Sindh province failed again. The doctors refused to call off their strike until the issuance of a notification stating their promised increase in salaries.

The third round of talks between the Secretary Health, Sindh, Saeed Awan, and JAC representatives led by Dr Yasin Umrani, Dr Waris Jakhrani, Dr Khan Muhammad Sher, Dr Razzak Rajpar, and others was held at the Sindh Secretariat.

The meeting continued for one hour and ended with no result.

“Joint Action Committee members held a meeting with the Secretary Health, Sindh, Saeed Awan, but he did not show them the summary sent for approval and it seems that the authorities concerned have no interest in resolving doctors’ issues,” said the Vice-President of the Young Doctors Association, Sindh, Dr Waris Ali.

He stated that the protesting doctors have decided to continue their strike across the province until the issuance of a notification that indicates the increase in the salaries of Sindh doctors at par with the wages of doctors in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The doctors of Sindh province continued their boycott of outpatient departments (OPDs) and operation theaters (OTs) in all government hospitals across Sindh province on February 15^th, 2019. Thousands of patients were compelled to return to their homes without seeking any treatment or consultation because of the doctors’ strike.

The OPD and OT services at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, National Institute of Child Health, Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital and other government-run hospitals remained closed on the third consecutive day due to the doctors' protest.

The doctors of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar Tando Allahyar, Jamshoro, and other cities of the province also continued the boycott of the OPDs and OTs.