ISLAMABAD: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has decided to close the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the hospital on Monday till the withdrawal of an inquiry against five doctors.

On the other hand, the hospital management has directed the five doctors to appear before an inquiry committee on Monday (tomorrow) to clarify why they became a matter of embarrassment for a Unicef delegation visiting the premises.

Last week, doctors of the hospital were holding a protest against appointment of staff without approval of the rules and regulations of Medial Teaching Institution (MTI).

The YDA marched in different departments and finally reached the place where the Unicef delegation was present, a senior doctor of the hospital said.

Official says doctors caused embarrassment by holding protest in front of visiting Unicef delegation

“The delegation had arrived to visit the paediatrics department but the doctors protested there and broke glasses and doors due to which the delegation left the spot. It was decided to hold an inquiry against the incident as the doctors caused embarrassment for the hospital and the country. However, YDA has decided to close the OPDs instead of apologising over the conduct. I think this practice should be stopped and young doctors should show responsibility,” he said.

He said the management had suggested to the YDA to give a written statement stating they felt sorry for the incident and had no intent to cause embarrassment in front of the foreign delegation. However, the association refused to do so.

YDA Chairman Dr Haider Abbasi toldDawnthat they had just held a peaceful protest because the association believed that appointments cannot be made unless rules and regulations of the MTI were approved.

In November 2020, President Dr Arif Alvi promulgated the MTI ordinance under which the hospital would be run through a board of governors (BoG). According to the ordinance, the BoG will deal with all affairs of Pims. The members were appointed and notified by the Ministry of National Health Services on the recommendation of a search and nomination council. Though employees protested against the ordinance it sailed through parliament. Later, the Pims management uploaded rules and regulation on its website but the employees refused to accept them.

Dr Abbasi said the management used the protest to pressure the doctors and deliberately ordered the probe against Dr Faiz, Dr Tariq, Dr Shair, Dr Khursheed and Dr Ibrahim.

“We are of the opinion that there is no need to hold an inquiry as it was our right to hold a peaceful protest. If an inquiry has to be conducted, it should be against all the doctors,” he said.

“We have decided to withdraw services from all the OPDs unless the inquiry is withdrawn,” he said.

Replying to a question, Dr Abbasi said the management had held a number of meetings with the YDA and assured it that the inquiry would be stopped. But on March 11, a letter was issued in which the five doctors were given the last chance to appear before the inquiry committee. It was also mentioned in the letter that a decision would be made even if the doctors did not appear before the committee,” he said.

When contacted, Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood said the doctors had protested in front of a delegation of Unicef and became a matter of embarrassment for the country.

“A three-member committee has been constituted, headed by Prof Dr Rana Imran, but the doctors have refused to appear before it. It would be unfortunate if OPDs are closed on Monday. I suggest to them to appear before the committee rather than going for the closure of the OPDs,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2022