LHC expresses anger over protesting medics for abandoning patients

LAHORE (92 News) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday expressed strong anger over protesting doctors for suspending treatment to patients and not appearing in the hearing today despite of court’s orders. It is pertinent to mention here that the postgraduate training doctors are protesting against Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act and possible privatisation of the hospitals from consecutive 43rd day. The Grand Health Alliance continued strike across Punjab. During hearing of a petition against protesting doctors, Justice Jawad Hassan remarked that why action has not been taken against the protesting doctors. “Why the license of protesting doctors has not cancelled?,” he asked. “I will see which doctor refuses treatment to patients. We will direct crackdown against protesting doctors today,” the justice warned.  “There is no concept of doctors going on strike all over the world who gives license to these doctors?” he further asked. Justice Jawad Hassan assured to end this strike at any cost and the court has again summoned concerned authorities and representatives of protesting doctors in the next hearing. Earlier, on the call of the All Pakistan Grand Health Alliance, doctors and paramedics observed a strike against the Medical Teaching Institutes (MTI) Act. In Islamabad, doctors observed a strike in OPD at PIMS. Patients chanted slogans against the doctors. Doctors and paramedics closed the laboratories for the second day in Faisalabad. In Peshawar, all three hospitals remained closed due to the strike. Citizens and patients, especially who are suffering from dengue fever, are facing problems due to the strike. Under the Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Ordinance 2019 drafted on the pattern of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s MTI Act, the government hospitals will be run by fully empowered Board of Governors (BoGs) which will consist of all members from the private sector. The BoGs shall also have powers for the appointment of admin officials on key slots and appointment of senior faculty members. The post of principal shall be converted into Dean who shall be appointed by the BoG for a period of five years.