First published in the Islamabad Dateline [6th April, 2011]
With the revolutionary vigor of the lawyers movement, has the domino effect of mid eastern revolutions taken its toll in Pakistan? The young doctor’s rebellion now enters its 6th week, nearing its climax.
‘How would you become a doctor if you don’t study hard?’ is a famous scolding in Pakistan, usually hurled at children not working as hard as their parents would wish. Graduating from a medical school is (or was) considered to be the last stage before materializing the dream of living ‘happily ever after’.
It was not to be — as young doctors in anger of government’s indifferent attitude to their demands took to streets. They called themselves the Young Doctors Association. Young they were, and very angry.
Scores of doctors have been fired from service. Many patients have died due to negligence in hospitals throughout Punjab. These vibrant and angry doctors won’t sit down, easily. The human rights activist advocate alternate means of protest, as not showing up on duty can have drastic effects on victims. The angry doctors blame the provincial government for mishandling the issue, which should have been resolved much earlier.
Confusion looms in masses as media paints a horrid picture of patients dying due to doctors absence and doctors voice out their legitimate right of wanting a pay-raise. ‘Even the driver of Daewoo bus service gets 22,000 Rs while we get 18,000 Rs, you tell me, is this fair?’, shouts a young medical student Noor Malik from Rawalpindi Medical College.
But some have their concerns over the YDA demeaning the holy profession of medicine.
The leading profession of Pakistan is fighting for its revolution. If only these revolutionaries would remember the humanity they studied so hard to help in their movement to help themselves. – Medical student, Emaan from KPK
Adeel Amjad, a legal consultant for a multi-national NGO says, ‘If the Province is facing so much trouble in its financial context then why the government is spending so much of its resources on Task Forces? I had personal experience of establishing eight medical camps during the flood relief activities and I still acknowledge and salute the courage shown by these young doctors during that turmoil. The questions raised by them are just and the manner of handling this issue shows the short-sighted approach of politicians in Pakistan’
Why have we developed this habit of ignoring a burning issue and only addressing it when it reaches the boiling point? We did not learn from the Lal Masjid fiasco, the lawyers’ movement, the PIA employees’ agitation or the PTCL workers strike? Closing eyes to approaching danger does not avert danger, only multiplies it.
The doctors rebellion did not reach this stage overnight. It is in fact a 2 year old topsy-turvy tale of compromises, false promises and playing with emotions en masse. CM Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif had promised a pay-rise to YDA in his subsequent meetings with them since early 2010. He passed an emotional statement saying ‘hum apna pait kaat kar doctors ka pait bharain gayn’ according to Dr. Zulqarnain Anjum, General Secy. of YDA. Dead lock prevailed and doctors initially boycotted the outdoor departments only. Government didn’t listen. On 7th March, YDA announced to install camps on roads as OPD for patients and treated patients on roads as protest. This continued for 02 weeks but government seemed un-moved. Bear in mind by this time no emergency ICC or CCU services were withdrawn. On 29th March, the YDA announced pull off all services including emergencies as nothing else seemed to move the media, and the government.
YDA has opened the emergency of PIC (Punjab Institute of Cardiology) on request of Mubashar Luqman and considering the gravity of cardiac emergencies.
But after long debates with the YDA, they seemed very clear on their stance of boycotting even emergencies till demands are met.
Their demands are legitimate. The only problem some have is with their ways.
These uprisings infest a glimmer of hope in an optimist. Why? Because of the increasing awareness amongst people about matters impacting their lives and their resolve to ‘snatch’ their rights if not given. Our leaders must pay careful heed to such movements as this over all climate of revolution can easily get out of hand.
Protest is a democratic right of citizens. There are many different ways of protesting. If a segment of our society feels the need to stand up, it should, but this democratic right must not be abused and must always remain a hostage to human rights
Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi – an aeronautical engineer by books, an activist by mind, a wanderer by soul and a lover by heart.
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