YDA announces strike across Sindh

KARACHI: The Joint Action Committee of Doctors on Saturday gave another ultimatum to Sindh Health Department to issue a notification addressing the increase in salaries and allowances otherwise the doctors of Sindh will go on a strike again from February 13 across the Sindh province.

The strike was announced by Chairman, Young Doctors Association, Sindh, Dr Umer Sultan during a joint press conference held at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Dr Pir Manzoor, Dr Yasin Umrani, Dr Waris and others also spoke on occasion.

Chairman, YDA, Sindh, Dr Umer Sultan, stated that the Sindh Government had failed to issue a notification despite the one-week deadline and it seemed that the authorities concerned with the Health Department were reluctant to fulfill their previous commitment made to doctors.

He said JAC had decided to give two more days to the provincial health department to issue a notification concerning an increase in salaries and allowances. He announced that doctors from all over Sindh would stage a complete boycott of OPDs and Operation Theaters (OTs) from February 13, 2019, across the province. However, the emergencies of hospitals will remain operational as per schedule.

General Secretary, PMA, Sindh, Dr Pir Manzoor Ali, said the attitude of the Sindh government towards resolving the genuine demands made by doctors was condemnable. He further stated that the Health Department has compelled doctors to go on strike again due to the delay in the issue of notification.

Manzoor announced that the doctors of Sindh would completely boycott the OPDs and OT services for the increase in salaries on par with other provinces, for their promotions as well as safety in hospitals.

Earlier, the doctors of Sindh, under the banner of Doctors Joint Action Committee had observed a complete strike and boycott of OPDs throughout the Sindh province for three-days petitioning for a rise in salaries and allowance on patron of other provinces and later called off the strike on the assurance of Provincial Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho .