QUETTA: The Balochis­tan chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the provincial health authorities to accept demands of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) and arrange fresh tests for admissions to medical colleges.

The PMA rejected online tests conducted by the Pakistan Medical Commission.

Issues relating to young doctors and the general health and management cadre were discussed at a meeting of the PMA’s provincial executive committee here on Monday.

It was decided to seek recommendations from both the cadres so that a comprehensive policy could be devised to address the issues relating to the service structure of both the cadres.

The meeting while discussing the ongoing strike by the YDA members decided to support the genuine demands of the YDA. However, it was observed that the YDA strike was directly affecting poor patients who could not afford treatment at private hospitals. It urged the YDA to change the method of protest so that it might not affect poor patients.

The meeting accorded approval for conducting election of the PMA, Quetta zone, on Nov 13.

It urged the Pakistan Medical Commission to conduct tests for admission to medical colleges of the country afresh so that medical students of Balochistan could not be deprived of their rights.

Underlining the need for providing facilities to the teaching hospital for operationalising Jhalawan Medical College, the meeting expressed reservations over affiliation of Jhalawan Medical College with the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

Condemning the abduction of Dr Javed Zehri from the premises of Khuzdar Hospital, the PMA urged the government to ensure safe recovery of Dr Zehri.

The meeting was attended by Dr Asif Shahwani, Dr Noor Qazi, Dr Ahmed Wali, Dr Afzal Khaliq Baloch, Dr Naseem Kakozai, Dr Rafiq Konia, Dr Kabir Khan, Dr Rashid Nasar and Dr Alam Sajjad.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2021