Doctors End Strike in Sindh Province 

KARACHI - The Joint Action Committee of Doctors (JAC) ended its strike throughout Sindh on the assurance of the authorities concerned with the Sindh health department.

The Vice-President of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh, Dr Waris Ali Jakhrani, stated that the JAC ended its strike and boycott of OPDs across the province for a week following reassurance from the Sindh health department authorities. He further quoted that doctors will be resuming their duties from Thursday.

A delegation of JAC held a meeting with Dr Azra Pechucho, the Provincial Minister of Health, and presented her with their demands. Dr Pechucho has abided by the rightful claims of doctors and will be issuing an official notification in a week. It was only after the Health Minister accepted these demands that the doctors agreed to end their strike and boycott that lasted for a week.

The strike was collectively called by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Sindh, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Sindh, Functional Doctors Forum and other doctors’ organizations. The motive behind calling the strike was to protest for a rise in salaries and allowance on the patron of other provinces. Additionally, the protestors demanded protection at hospitals as well as the promotion of health practitioners in accordance with the service structure.

The doctors completely boycotted all government hospital OPDs in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Thatta, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Dadu, Jamshoro and other small cities of Sindh on the third day to pressurize the government into accepting their mandate.

Patients from all over Sindh faced severe problems owing to the strike and boycott of OPDs however, emergency services and surgeries continued to be performed as per schedule.