Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), the Young Doctors’ Association (YDA), CHK Chapter office-bearers said that the Sindh government, through a notification on July 20 increased the salaries of PGs all over Sindh by up to 42,500.
“The PGs all over the province started getting increased honorarium at the rate of Rs42,500 from July 2011 following Sindh government’s notification but the PGs of DUHS had still not received the increased pay. There are 500 PGs of DUHS, majority of whom are presently working at CHK” YDA President of CHK chapter Dr. Ambreen Zaidi said.
Dr. Ambreen who was accompanied by other office-bearers of the YDA, said they pointed out their issue from time to time through print and electronic media while they also held meetings with Sindh government and DUHS officials but no heed was paid to their grievance.
According to her, not only the PGs of DUHS but the PGs from other hospitals in Sindh and Universities were also not receiving the increased salary, causing unrest and uncertainty amongst young doctors.
“We demand of the Sindh health department and the DUHS to fulfill their promises and start issuing increased stipends of PGs along with arrears” she said and added that authorities should resolve issue of PGs’ salaries on priority basis.
She threatened that PGs of CHK would be compelled to boycott all the elective work at CHK including OPDs, Operation Theatres and elective ward duties if their salaries were not increased immediately.
To a question, Dr. Zaidi did not give a date for the boycott saying it was easy for them to resort to boycott but added that PGs provide a major contribution to 24-hour work at CHK and their strike would result in inconvenience for hundreds of patients at largest tertiary care hospital in Sindh.
“It would be wise for the authorities to resolve our issue on a priority basis as once we started our boycott, it would be continued till the PGs get increased stipends with their arrears” she warned and added that authorities concerned would be responsible for any consequences.
Dr. Amini Abdul Qaiyoume, Dr. Zafar Abbas, Dr. Mushaf Rasool, Dr. Masroor Ahmed and Dr. S. Uzair Ali were also present on the occasion.
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