PESHAWAR: House Officers and Trainee Medical Officers (TMOs) posted in government hospitals of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced a complete boycott of duties across the province from tomorrow and will go back to their homes, over the non-implementation of a 30% salary increase.
According to details, in a press conference held today, the Young Doctors said that only one doctor will remain in emergency and one in the ward during the strike, while all other routine services will remain suspended.
The doctors announced that they have rejected negotiations with the Health Minister.”Now if there are any negotiations, they will only be with the Chief Minister, not with the Health Minister,” the representatives of House Officers and Trainee Medical Officers said in the press conference.
The protesting doctors said that despite repeated assurances, the provincial government has failed to increase their stipends/salaries by 30% as per their demands, while inflation has made it impossible to survive on the current pay.
They said that House Officers and TMOs are the backbone of public hospitals and work round the clock, but they are being subjected to economic injustice. The doctors warned that if their demands are not met, the scope of the protest will be further expanded and all emergency services will also be boycotted.
On the other hand, due to the announced boycott, patients across the province are likely to face severe difficulties, as government hospitals are already facing a shortage of staff. The Health Department has not yet issued any official response to the announcement.
Read also: Provincial Doctors Association Announces Support for September 30 Strike
