Victory for Young Doctors in Punjab

Young Doctors in Punjab achieved victory on Wednesday 7 November after a struggle that lasted over two years. More than 22,000 young doctors in Punjab were united in their demands for better wages and service structure under the banner of a new organisation called Young Doctors Association (YDA).

With a modest start in 2009 the YDA spread rapidly across Punjab under its young, energetic and revolutionary leadership. Getting inspiration from the Punjab, chapters of YDA were formed in other parts of country making demands for basic rights.

Health is one of the most neglected sectors in Pakistan. Less than one per cent is allocated for this sector in the budget. More than 80 per cent of population is forced to use non-scientific medicine due to expensive and rare health facilities. More than 500,000 women die every year during child birth. Around 50 per cent of children have stunted growth due to malnutrition.

In government hospitals the situation is horrible. Two to three patients share one bed. However, those who get a bed are the luckiest. Most people can’t even reach Government hospitals because they live in far off places. Many die during the journey. Some who do reach the hospitals are denied entry, others are treated while lying on the floors.

On top of that pharmaceuticals are also killing many. There is no proper check and balance for medicines. Recently more than 100 patients died in privileged Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore due to fake medicines. Not a single person has been arrested yet for this horrible crime. Pharmaceuticals normally have up to 500 per cent of profit margin and it’s particularly high on life saving drugs. Often crucial life saving drugs are stocked and sold through black market.

In recent years the government has cut the already tiny health budget. Diagnostic machinery seldom operates and operation theatres and wards have no hygienic safety, they lack electricity and other basic necessities. At the same time the business of private medical hospitals, testing laboratories and pharmaceuticals is flourishing. They charge exorbitant fees for providing basic health facilities. Even then one is not sure if he or she is getting right treatment. In order to get a fee from patients for the running their private hospitals, doctors do not give correct advice to patients. That is why the rulers of this country prefer treatment in Europe or America. Parliamentarians and senior government officials go abroad for treatment paid by public funds.

In this situation the movement of young doctors was a ray of hope. They not only had to struggle against oppression of Government but had to fight against the fury of senior doctors who were making huge money from this health business.

Starting with demands for higher wages and better working conditions, the YDA moved on to demand better health facilities. All across Punjab banners were displayed in all hospitals mentioning the problems with health facilities in hospitals. YDA also demanded a ban on doctors having a private practice during government service. YDA also pointed out the lack of diagnostic machines at hospitals and other basic equipment.

All these demands and protest were met by oppression by the state. Police baton charged and arrested many young doctors. YDA then moved to an all-out strike in government hospitals. Government used this occasion to slander the struggle of the doctors using the servile media. Young doctors only boycotted outpatient departments while emergency services were operational. Actually many patients of OPD were being treated in emergencies but media painted a negative picture of young doctors and branded them killers. Army doctors were brought in to operate hospitals to present a people friendly picture of the barbaric army of Pakistan. These doctors were also insufficient and incapable of getting hospitals operational.

During this strike when the YDA leadership was having a meeting of General Council to plan its strategy, a heavy contingent of police attacked them. They were severely beaten and put in jails in far off areas with hardened criminals and terrorists. One young doctor was beaten so badly that he had was paralysed. Many doctors had their legs broken. 5 doctors were charged with false charges of murder and their trial was begun in court. A few minutes after this attack all young doctors themselves stopped emergency services in government hospitals.

Meanwhile, the corrupt judiciary came in support of the ruthless government and declared the strike illegal. They ordered an end to the strike. At this time the doctors, with pressure building against them, called end to the strike. The government in turn released all arrested doctors.

Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign supported YDA in this struggle for better health facilities from the very beginning. At this important juncture PTUC explained the character of the state, its oppressive role, the corrupt role of judiciary and other state institutions. Also it explained the reasons for the poor health facilities and how Capitalism is the root of all these ills.

Though the movement did not achieve its goal at that point, spirits were high. Meetings of young doctors were held in all hospitals of Punjab to discuss future strategy and tactics. Comrades of PTUDC visited almost all these meetings and explained their point of view of class unity. Also the PTUDC went to many trade unions and asked them to support the YDA in their struggle. In this situation the unions of professors and lecturers, post office and telecommunication workers, water and power department, EMCO industries and many other sectors supported on the call of the PTUDC. The Progressive Youth Alliance also gathered support for the YDA from many student organisations like JKNSF, BSO, PSF and others.

PTUDC linked the struggle of the YDA with better health facilities. PTUDC and YDA also tried to get support from the nurses association and hospital workers, who were inspired by the YDA and were also protesting for their rights. An association of young nurses was formed during the struggle called Young Nurses Association.

This helped a lot in boosting the morale of the young doctors. They continued their struggle with protests outside their hospitals but the government was hell bent on repression.

Then the YDA decided to hold a long march to the Chief Minister Secretariat on the 7^th of November. More than 4,000 young doctors arrived in Lahore on the morning of the 7^th. Comrades from PTUDC were also there to welcome them.

When the long march started the rulers were shaking in their boots and within few hours announced a new service structure for doctors. The YDA leadership announced this victory and the long march turned in to a victory march.

Though the government has still not accepted many of the demands, at least 56 demands have been accepted which is the first time in 65 year history of Pakistan. All the trumped-up criminal charges against the doctors were also dismissed which proves the corrupt role of the judiciary and police. After this victory the YDA has thanked PTUDC for its support.

On 20th October a meeting was held in Services Hospital Lahore jointly by PTUDC and YDA. More than 300 workers, trade union and student leaders from many institutions attended this meeting. Comrade Greg Oxley from France gave a speech in this meeting. He also read out solidarity messages for YDA from many trade union organisations of France. Workers from Coca Cola and many other industrial sectors also supported YDA.

The fight for better health facilities will continue but this is an important mile stone in struggle against the corrupt state which is destroying the lives of people. Capitalism is horror without end. We believe that only through a socialist revolution can this misery be brought to an end.