Islamabad, January 11 (IANS). The condition of health facilities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir has also become pathetic. The United Doctors Forum (UDF) has warned the authorities that if action is not taken on their long-pending and legitimate demands, protests will be launched from January 26.
UDF is an organization of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and Young Doctors Association (YDA) in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK).
UDF Chairman Dr. Wajid Khan and General Secretary Dr. Arshad Raja warned about this protest during a press conference. Wajid and Arshad are the heads of PMA and YDA. In this press conference, he was accompanied by other officials like Dr. Waqar Butt, Dr. Basharat Hayat, Dr. Aamir Ikram, Dr. Raja Imtiaz and Dr. Bilal Ahmed.
According to the report of Pakistani newspaper Dawn, these officers are upset with the attitude of the Pakistani government. He criticized the years-long delay as impacting the health department and demoralizing medical professionals.
He said during the press conference that the doctors have shown patience and have used all constitutional, legal and democratic means to solve their problems. Officials are not solving their issues.
Wajid Khan said, “Unfortunately, instead of being resolved, our issues are becoming more complicated, and decisions are being postponed again and again. Such delays have thrown the healthcare system into uncertainty.”
UDF leaders said that the promotion process in the health department has come to a halt. Promotion cases are pending since 2019, due to which many doctors have retired without promotion. He termed the absence of the Permanent Director General of Health as a big issue and emphasized that the department cannot be run on the basis of additional charge.
According to Dawn, UDF leaders expressed deep concern over doctors not getting financial benefits and allowances from June 2022 despite the Supreme Court decision. He said that there is a severe shortage of medical facilities and modern equipment in government hospitals. It is very worrying to have only one MRI machine in the entire area.
He also expressed concern over security threats being issued to women doctors and paramedical staff, incidents of assault in hospitals, one-sided investigations and police action.
“In every such incident, doctors are made scapegoats, which is very wrong,” he claimed.
UDF leaders announced that a two-hour strike would begin in PoJK from January 26 and would last for two weeks. More than 1,200 doctors from across the region are expected to join the strike. During the strike, OPDs will remain closed while emergency services will continue, but if action is not taken by February 2, hospitals will be completely closed.
–IANS
KK/ABM
