LAHORE, Jan 19: A doctor reportedly threatened to shoot a professor at the Mayo Hospital OPD on Saturday for attending patients during the strike called by the Young Doctors’ Association.

The ugly incident created unrest among the senior teachers who termed it a matter of grave concern, saying the frequent sackings and suspensions from service by the provincial health department in the aftermath of Gujranwala incident was taking a heavy toll on protesting doctors’ nerves.

They stressed the need for resolving the YDA strike issue through a dialogue to avoid such untoward incidents instead of prolonging the standoff and destroying the future of the young health professionals.

On the other hand, the health department terminated on Saturday services four more agitating doctors of the Children’s Hospital for allegedly torturing a receptionist at the facility’s OPD and damaging the state property.

About the Saturday’s incident, an official said the young doctors were enraged when they found a professor, along with his students, attending patients at the Mayo Hospital’s OPD during the strike.

He said the young medics asked the senior doctor to leave the place but he refused to do so.

Later, tension mounted at the OPD when one of the young doctors threatened to ‘shoot’ the professor for not following the YDA ‘command’.

The official said the senior doctor, however, remained unmoved despite the threat and kept on attending patients. Later, the professor brought the matter to the knowledge of senior management of the King Edward Medical University and the Mayo Hospital.

“I think the desperate young doctors are losing their temper in the aftermath of Gujranwala District Headquarters Hospital incident and the resulting terminations and suspensions of their comrades”, a senior member of the King Edward Medical University faculty told Dawn requesting anonymity.

He said everybody knew the young doctors committed a gross mistake by torturing their seniors but they should not be punished more for that, otherwise more ugly incidents would follow.

The Saturday’s incident was a clear indication of the rising frustration of the protesting doctors and the government should realise the graveness of the situation, he warned.

Another senior doctor held the strong criticism of young doctors by the civil society and others responsible for their growing intolerance. He said earlier the medics had been using the strike as a pressure tactic but this time the motive behind their strike was ‘unclear’.

According to sources at various government hospitals, the YDA strike remained partially successful at the major teaching health facilities of the province on Saturday.

Several young doctors resumed their duties fearing action by the health department, while senior doctors were also providing treatment to the patients at the OPDs of government hospitals, they said.

The out patient departments at all government hospitals remained partially open on Saturday except the Children’s Hospital where it was completely closed.

A spokesman said the health department had terminated the services of Dr Shadab Masood and Medical Officer Dr Ahmad Zishan with immediate effect after completing initial enquiry into the incident of manhandling the employees and harassing the women at the Children’s Hospital, Lahore. Senior Registrars (ad hoc), Dr Zishan Khan and Dr Sikandar had also been removed from service and were directed to report to the health department, he added.

The spokesman said health department had also initiated inquiry into conduct of Dr Zishan Khan and Dr Sikandar under PEDA Act.

He dispelled rumours of suspension of YDA Punjab president Dr Javed Malik, saying an inquiry under PEEDA Act was under process yet.