LAHORE: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) at Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZH) has officially ended their two-week-long strike, owing to the personal intervention of the caretaker provincial health minister, Prof Dr Javed Akram.
Acknowledging the efforts of Prof Akram, Chairman Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Prof Dr Waqar Ahmed, and YDA representatives expressed gratitude for the timely resolution of their grievances.
The chairman, along with Dr Ashtar Zaidi, Dr Hassan, and other hospital management personnel, were present at the occasion.
Prof Javed Akram emphasised the SZH role for the residents of Lahore. Highlighting the budget disparity between Jinnah Hospital and SZH, he reiterated the government's commitment to providing stipends to the doctors on par with those in government hospitals.
He assured the Punjab government remains dedicated to promptly addressing any issues faced by patients across all healthcare institutions.
Underlining the validity of the demands raised by the hospital administration, Dr Akram announced plans for a delegation to visit Islamabad to engage with federal authorities in resolving the concerns of the SZH doctors. Discussions with Federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan and the secretary have already been initiated to address the financial challenges at the hospital, he added.
The minister affirmed the support of Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi in overseeing the management of SZH, Lahore, emphasizing the significance of timely compensation for the doctors, enabling them to provide enhanced care to the patients.
He advocated for equitable salaries for the doctors, stating that an initial investment of five billion rupees is required to tackle the hospital's issues effectively.
Emphasizing the hospital's core mission, Prof aqar Ahmed lauded Prof Javed Akram's consistent support during challenging times.
SZH YDA president Dr Hassan acknowledged the release of pending salaries and thanked Prof Dr Javed Akram for prioritising the resolution of Sheikh Zayed Hospital's challenges.
