LAHORE: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) in Punjab has announced a province-wide boycott of OPDs (Outpatient Departments) in government hospitals, protesting the provincial government's decision to privatize primary healthcare centers. This decision has sparked significant unrest, with healthcare professionals demanding the withdrawal of privatization plans.
As part of the protest, the OPDs at the Children's Hospital and General Hospitals in Lahore have been closed, while OPDs at other government hospitals in the city are operational. The Grand Health Alliance, which has been holding a sit-in in front of the Punjab Assembly for the past 13 days, continues to call for a reversal of the privatization policy.
The YDA has taken a firm stance, with the OPDs at Lahore General Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Services Hospital, and Jinnah Hospital also being closed in protest today. The protesters argue that privatization will lead to increased unemployment and deteriorate access to affordable healthcare.
The sit-in participants made an attempt to reach the Chief Minister’s office, but their protest was met with water cannon tactics by the police to disperse the crowd. The YDA remains firm in its position, demanding the government engage in negotiations to address their concerns and reconsider the privatization decision.