Facing widespread protests from medical staff, the Punjab government has authorized the hiring of doctors on a daily-wage basis to keep public hospitals functioning. The decision follows a heated backlash from the Young Doctors Association (YDA), which is rallying against the government’s plan to privatize certain services in teaching hospitals across the province.
Over 30 doctors and healthcare workers have reportedly been dismissed for participating in strikes, fueling further unrest. The YDA has warned that if the dismissals are not reversed and the outsourcing initiative isn’t halted, they will escalate their protest by halting all indoor hospital services.
Support for the YDA has swelled, with the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and Punjab Nurses Association (PNA) voicing concerns over the implications of privatization. Critics say the move threatens not only jobs but also the accessibility and quality of healthcare for the public.
In a bid to manage the staffing crisis, the health department has suspended all leaves for doctors and nurses and is bringing in daily-wage staff as a stopgap measure. However, many view this as a temporary patch that fails to address deeper systemic issues in Punjab’s healthcare governance.
The unfolding situation poses a serious challenge for Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s administration, which must now navigate a tense standoff with the medical community while maintaining healthcare services for millions.
