Young doctors call off strike after fruitful talks

LAHORE - Ending a fifteen days long protest to press the demands, the young doctors will resume their duties on Tuesday (today) at outpatients departments of government hospitals in Punjab, local media reported.

A decision to end the strike has been announced after successful negotiations with the Health Department, announced Young Doctors Association (YDA) during a press conference.

The health department has assured the doctors that a summary to confirm the ad hoc doctors will be sent to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, besides withdrawing the notification of dismissing the young doctors during the protest days.

It has also been decided that academic councils of all colleges will review the Central Induction Policy.

On August 1, the young doctors launched a protest to press its demands regarding revoking Central Induction Policy and increasing salaries and allowances. The association has also demanded the termination of health secretary Najam Ahmad Shah.

Patients in several hospitals of Punjab faced hardship as the doctors were not ready to resume their duties due to the strike.