Lahore hospitals struggling with young doctors’ strike

Hospitals in Lahore are struggling to cope with demand as young doctors continue to strike.

Members of the Young Doctors Association have withheld their services since Tuesday, 1 August, over pay and other grievances.

They have stopped working in out patient departments and other wards in Services Hospital and Jinnah Hospital.

Representatives from YDA met with the minister for specialised healthcare and medical education on Tuesday evening and it was thought their issues were resolved. However, senior hospital staff were surprised to find activists continued their protests the following morning.

The minister’s department has launched a probe into three patient deaths that have occurred during the strike, to ascertain whether the patients were properly attended to.

An ultimatum was delivered to the doctors, demanding they return to work by 8.00pm on Wednesday evening or face losing their jobs. A list of 90 doctors who were absent from duty was sent to the minister.