CPSP to cancel residency of medics if strike continues in Punjab, KP.

Byline: Asif Chaudhry

LAHORE -- The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) has decided to terminate the residency programme registration of the protesting postgraduate trainees of state-run medical institutions of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The CPSP has sent a written warning to the trainees of both provinces, stating that if they did not resume their duties at teaching hospitals forthwith, they would be dropped from the National Residency Programme.

Medical experts were of the views that if the CPSP implemented its decision, it would inflict a major dent to the career of the postgraduate trainees.

Moreover, the Punjab government also tightened its noose around the teaching faculty of public sector medical institutions for being unable to bring back the striking doctors to their units. It has also sought lists from the heads of departments (HoDs) of all teaching hospitals of Punjab of those postgraduate trainees, who were taking part in the protests instead of attending training sessions.

Govt seeks lists of all postgraduate trainees in Punjab participating in strike

The authorities took these steps in view of the reports that one of the reasons behind the ongoing strike of government employees at state-run medical teaching institutions was the participation of the postgraduate trainees - considered the backbone of the healthcare system.

Secondly, the Punjab government was informed that most of the senior medical teachers were playing a 'double role' in the wake of the strike, an official privy to the information told Dawn. On one hand they were indirectly backing the strike and on the other showing support to the government, he said.

He added that the CPSP, being the only medical regulatory body, could play its role to neutralise the strike in both the provinces. The official claimed that after failing to control the striking medics, the governments of Punjab and KP have sought support from the CPSP.

The official said Punjab's health authorities had sent strong signals to the CPSP that they could opt for amendments to the CPSP rules to cut its wings if it failed to bring the striking medics back to hospitals for the purpose they were enrolled for.

Consequently, the CPSP issued a warning to the trainees of action for being absent from their respective departments, he added.

'It has been...