The United Doctors Forum (UDF) in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has issued a warning to authorities, stating that if their long-pending demands are not met, they will initiate a protest from January 26. The UDF, comprising the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Young Doctors Association (YDA), expressed frustration over delays in addressing their issues, impacting the healthcare system and causing uncertainty.
UDF leaders, including Dr. Wajid Khan and Dr. Arshad Raja, highlighted concerns such as the halting of promotion processes in the Health Department since 2019, the absence of a permanent Director General of Health, and non-payment of financial benefits to doctors since June 2022. They also criticized the shortage of medical facilities and modern equipment in government hospitals, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address these challenges.
The UDF leaders further raised alarm over security threats to women doctors and paramedical staff, incidents of physical violence in hospitals, and one-sided probes leading to unfair treatment of doctors. They announced plans for a two-hour open strike starting on January 26, involving over 1,200 doctors in the region. If their demands are not met by February 2, complete hospital shutdowns will be initiated.
