Our Doctors – Angels or Demons?
By Awais Kaleem
Image source: www.vinothbabu.com
“The YDA members have been demanding induction of all doctors in BPS-18, pay increase from Rs. 22,000 to Rs. 70,000 for medical officers, and regularisation of doctors working on contract for the last several years. As a protest, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Saturday kept the outpatient department (OPD) of the hospital closed.”
- Dawn
(March 27, 2011)
I came to know yesterday about Health Ministry announcing the increase in salary of Medical Officers from 22,000 PKR to 50,000 PRK. It was a great step for our doctors as doctors everywhere else are earning considerably higher than ours. But perceiving it logically, I was sure of the presence of a mortgage for all this. It turns out that they closed some department named “OPD” that’s supposed to be in every hospital for dealing with normal cases or as they the doctors say ‘non-emergency cases’ for whole 35 days!
So, I responsibly decided to raise this issue and ask my mates here about there being any sanity behind this act of protest by our “Angelic Doctors”? I admit that 22,000 Rs for a doctor, be him with or without a family is very low to even enjoy life normally along with tough hours of hospital itself. But still, does it justify the ceasing a whole department of a Government Hospital? Against this, they say that the emergency was still open for all hours.
So dear doctors, are you trying to imply that if I had a slight fever that might’ve been a symptom to some fatal disease I would have to get myself diagnosed in the later stage, I can’t go to PIMS for it? You of all should know better the random physical behavior of human body. Here a person is perfectly healthy in his 30’s and the next moment he’s literally in a whole other world. So is it just the death-bed patient you were dealing with these last 35 days of strike? Without even surveying I am dead sure about hundreds of patients’ sufferings. Death is not the only suffering a person can endure. Even if a person suffers from this little fever for 3-4 hours, what good is coming from you all then?
Why did you people choose this profession anyway? Because evidently, it sure is not about serving the patients or humanity now, is it? Is it the fame? The respect you get from us “sick miserables”? You have no right to act Godlike. You are supposed to treat patients! That is your social, moral, religious and national responsibility. It is just the humbleness of noble patients to thank the doctor for saving their lives and all. You are not doing any favor to anyone. We don’t want such attention seeker doctors in our country. From the way you and rest of the government and politicians are behaving these days, believe you me that we sure as hell are going to die anyway. With or without you.
As far as your problems are concerned; long late hours duties, low salary, hospitals under staffed. For these my dear fellows, didn’t you know this all when you were enrolling yourself in a medical degree institute? If not then what were you thinking back then? Seriously! This was clearly an obvious disaster for you. Either you know the answer to this question or we really are doomed to have such stupid and hypocrite doctors in our society.
For all those who are still not getting my so elaborated and simplified point and those whose English or IQ is weak, don’t sweat. I’m not at all against this protest! But, the way it was lead was a flawless act of absurdity. I always thought that strikes are called out by labor unions or mafias or in our case political activists, but the YDA has set new standards now.
Once there was a strike in some East Asian country, a bus strike. The bus service belonged to the government. The bus service worker’s committee had decided to strike for their differences with the government. They drove all the buses for a whole week without taking any fair from anybody and used the fuel cards they were given by the government. So at the end of the strike there was a big financial hole in transport department’s budget and they had to comply with worker’s demands. This is how you strike. So do strike, but aim first!
I usually end my article with an optimistic touch, giving a possible solution to the problem pointed. But in this case I’m going to make an exception. Go figure this one out on your own and clean the mess you made… for all the humanity you’ve disturbed… for your own grave… for your own self!
PS. After reading this article if you want to “strike” me, get me first; please don’t hurt any other patient because of this article or my perception of your low narrow-minded approaches. Thank you.
A telecommunications engineer who, through his writings, wishes to modulate social freedom, synchronize politics with true democracy, filter out emotionalism from rationality, and broadcast peace all over the world. Serving as Head Publications of tVoY since its inception. Can be contacted at ali.suleman@thevoiceofyouth.com
© 2011, the Voice of Youth. All rights reserved. On republishing this post you must provide link to original post.
Dear Author,
i just read your article. it seemed to me that you are pressing against one sided story, let me give a reply categorically.
1) you mentioned that the way doctors did strike was inappropriate, allow me to unveil the real side of story, first of all do you really think doctors would go to close down Out Patient Department in a first place? No this demand has been put forward to Government of Pakistan through proper channel via Executive Director of PIMS, Authorities concerned in Government Department as usual ignored and did not bother to even discuss the issue. Yda islamabad than planned out and notified Goverment that they are going to strike if their salaries are not raised, let me remind you here another thing, government of pakistan in past 3-4 years doubled the salaries of all government employs who work from 8-2pm, even constable of police of was getting more than what they had to offer to a doctor i.e. 22k, who worked 8 to next day 2pm.coming back to my point, this strike and demand for salary raise was not raised in a night over, doctors have been raising this issue for the past 2-3 years, dont you think authorities concerned could have solved that matter in this time frame and reverted this all strike chaos?
2) after this long period of 2-3 years, doctors decided to go strike while closing OPDs, but services were continued in emergency department. you gave a example of somebody having fever, let me clarify, one cannot die from fever alone and secondly even thou its not a emergency case no one denied him seeing a doctor in emergency. Pims hospital emergency was open round the clock during this whole strike. and not even a single patient died becuase he wasnt seen by doctor in OPD. if you have been abroad you would know how long appointments you get to see a doctor in OPD, which here in our country doctors see patients on daily basis without appointments
3) you mentioned that why enroll in a medical institute when you know the long duty hours, patient load, and low salary for a doctor, first of all people clearly dont enter in a medical profession for getting highly paid, as you yourself mentioned low salary, so that means doctors choose their profession for their own interest. but does that mean that doctors are not allowed to demand for competitive salary with other professions? why does doctor has know family to support? he has no right to ask for a better living just because he became a doctor to treat ill? even molvi, i guess gets a better living, lemme sketch the whole before strike scenario. doctor was paid 22k with no health entitlement. if he has a family of 5 and he has been given a single room to live in which is to be share with atleast one more doctor (may be with his family) and he has to eat on his own while working on 36hour duty shift, i bet even you cannot manage in 22k.
concluding my reply, i think its easy to criticize without knowing the ground realities. i invite you to spend one 36 hour duty with a doctor on eid day and do nothing just accompany him where ever doctor goes!
First, Thank you Doctor X for enlightening us by your gracious presence.
1. I dont see any offense meant in point 1, for all its worth, all i can remmbr from this point is a dialogue between Bruce Willis and Timothy Olyphant in Die Hard 4 where Timothy tries to convince Bruce that he has done country a favor by terrorizing the whole country
2. @your point number two. Like i said, death is not the only suffering.
@appointments: thats how you are supposed to work!
3. @competitive salary: Are you concerned about the competition here?
@family of five:
1) bache do hee achai , i thought this WAS from doctors themselves. o.0
2) Refer to point 4 ;P
4. @22k , All things aside, I totally support you with 22k salary issue. But “Its the way you carried your strike out I have objection with”. There was a better way. But like i said, Figure this one out on your own.
Better are people who put their faith before their demands. These days we are calling such terrorists. But at least they are not hypocrites.
Purpose of my whole article is to make an effort to bring a change in attitude from our community. And i “”hope”" you agree with me on that.
Regards.
Oooo Lads~~!!!!
I am really thrilled to know after readin these articles that i did nothin but wasted my 10-15 mins on this…………. i would have been happier if either ov u had proposed a realistic rational solution of this problem …..N IN REPLY OV BOTH THE ARTICLES I SAY:
DOCTORS ARE AS MUCH OV THE HUMAN BEINGS AS ANY ONE ELSE…….. NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS….. :D
Dear Awais ,
Its good start but I would recommend you to do more research on this.Secondly, dont be one sided bro :) ..cheers.
@furqan: Ill try to be more elaborate next time. :)
And is this article giving us a standard to post future articles? If not, then why hasn’t the “chief editor” or who ever oversees the articles taken notice of this absurdly one sided article? I can assure you that I can write up more than twice of what’s written here to clarify the, misunderstanding would be an “inappropriate” word because you seem to be pointing your fingers quite steadily, blames you are putting on the doctors who work in government hospitals. And first of all, you go off making such harsh blames on doctors and then take what we do as a joke in your comments; I’m sure there’s a sense of hypocrisy in there somewhere, were you blinded enough not to see it? If you JUST read what happened to the salaries of the doctors, then maybe you SHOULD’VE read the whole history which led to this before jotting down whatever came into your mind regarding doctors.
As I heard and experienced that MOST of house officers hired by PIMS are on so called “Pawa or sifarishi” basis, directly or indirectly.
This was just a random thought (not pointing to any particular group).
good luck
@Zahir: Mr. Zahir I’m sure we all here are rational folks. So, part from “Anonymous Doctor from pims” claim regarding this article being one sided story, “Do you have your own grounds of calling “common perceptions” one sided?” [Waiting for your response on this]
Kindly read the whole content and all responses. Because from where i stand, I see YOU being one sided here. Like i said, “Change in perceptions and attitudes is all i’m asking”.
@Dr.Ali : Why don’t you raise this issue? I’ll be pleased to have your back on this. :)
Okie so here is the point where u come up and blame someone for what he is doing or has done…. rather then actually trying to know the reason behind what he is doing and what he has done…..
Bro before writing an article and pointing at someone. Please do a bit of a research…. it will help u and others as well….
Whats up with articles these days…. people just come up and try to turn their own point of views into facts….. :S….
“The YDA members have been demanding induction of all doctors in BPS-18, pay increase from Rs22,000 to Rs70,000 for medical officers, and regularisation of doctors working on contract for the last several years. As a protest, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Saturday >>>>>>>>>>kept the outpatient department (OPD) of the hospital closed<<<<<<<<<.”
- Dawn
(March 27, 2011)
This is the only fact that is discussed here. The very first lines are are based on ""research"". All I have an objection with is closing of OPD that IS A FACT. Sanity does not expect this from professionals like doctors. Its just as if teachers close a school, or transport service raises its fares.
IF CHANGE IS WHAT WE NEED HERE, I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE OFFENDED. ITS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. CHANGE, BEFORE SOMEONE DRAGS YOU ALONG.
Well bro… u actually think they did that for fun?…. u actually think ur government is full of such nice people… that u send them a letter to raise the salaries and they will agree to it right on the spot?….. Doctors r humans…. and believe me let me tell u the truth… no one in this world works for free…. dont u think they deserve more then just 22,000rs?….. u think in an expensive time like this… where fuel is for 80-90rs/litre…. and everything is so expensive… can u live wid 22,000rs a month?…. do u think they studied Medical and everything to work for other humans for free?….. bro everyone wants a better living…. everyone wants money….. u cant expect anyone to work for u for free….. ask ur government to reduce the prices of everything… and then no one will have to close OPD’s so that their salaries can be increased…. u think about patients but what about families of doctors?… dont they have the right to have a better living?….. if u wanna blame someone…. Blame the government not the Doctors…..
Bro, I DO support their 22k salary stance [I did mention this in the article]. What I don’t support is closing of OPD.
no freedom of speech for me!!so unfair!
why so biased n rude??????
Dear author,
I think you should start working on this issue right from your HOME As I came to know that your brother is a doctor and currenlty working at PIMS.
Between the Voice of Youth editor seems sleeping or drunked after publishing this article without reading the whole content.As mentioned by author “After reading this article if you want to “strike” me, get me first”.
These lines by any means dont seems to be of an educated YOUTH.
And what you said research(by copying line from the news paper or from media),by any means this is not research dude. Come on!!! are you above 18 or you pretending to be under 18.Do some personal visits NOT only at PIMS but others hospitals too and then give you general perception about doctors.
Dr. farhan,
I would urge you to enlighten me clearly about the “uneducatedness” you found in the phrase you quoted from the article. I’m waiting.
Regards,
Ali Suleman
Head Publications and General Editor
the Voice of Youth
Mr. Farhan I did not feel the need of bringing personal matters here in a public forum. If “I” didn’t, I don’t have a clue what made you do this.
But anyways, thank you for bringing this up because this clears how close how I truly was to the whole strike scenario.
Moreover, regarding the last line, I would like to urge you to see some parts of literature in metaphoric sense. Just try to look at things in a broad perspective. I’m sure a person in your position would understand my point.
And I am highly interested in knowing that why does my age matter to you. You see, I am a reasonable man. I am sure you’ll have some explanation. :)
Best,
Author.
salam,
my dear dear Author,
You know, FRANKLY SPEAKING, the first impression I got of you after reading “all” the comments is just one thing ” lack of respect”.
and then, you must know, your words don’t touch my heart in this way; and Here you lose (to bring “change”)… PLEASE DON’T MIND
Its Not that I did not like your bringing this issue to this platform (in fact I wish I had done this in my life; that’s the level of my respect to you), but the point is that you forgot to remain receptive afterwards…
Then:
“Why did you people choose this profession anyway? Because evidently, it sure is not about serving the patients or humanity now, is it? Is it the fame? The respect you get from us “sick miserables”? You have no right to act Godlike. You are supposed to treat patients! That is your social, moral, religious and national responsibility. It is just the humbleness of noble patients to thank the doctor for saving their lives and all.”
This piece is the height of PERSONAL ATTACK I have ever encountered.
I being a medical student of KEMU myself can respond to you on this in a hundred ways the same way you responded to all the commentators, but I guess I should just lament on this part of your creation, otherwise, …. no difference… ,,, … i don’t want to say that… don’t mind again…
Now, i just want to say what every one knows,
“THERE ARE BLACK SHEEP IN EVERY COMMUNITY”
AND here is my suggestion and a humble humble advice as a brother, if you don’t mind: Read SEERAT-UN-NABI, SEERAT-E-QUAID-E-AZAM, SEERAT-E-ALLAMA IQBAL,etc. if you really mean what YOU say: Bringing a change in (so called) perceptions, attitudes, …. whatever.
Be honest to yourself, How much research have you done on the things I humbly, humbly suggested you above. I am not waiting for your reply on this.
I just fancy why people claim to bring change when they paid the least attention towards the “change campaign” led by our HOLY PROPHET (PBUH), who never even thought of insulting anyone even in his(PBUH) dreams.
I personally think that, in real sense, it is MOMAL MUSHTAQ who made a big step ahead towards change.
Aaaaaah, and the matters about the doctors:
(again don’t mind)
Logically speaking,if you still really think you are smart enough to turn away every comment against you,
then i think you just took the comment of Anonymous doctor for granted.
why do think that doctors enjoyed their strike?
Its very easy to comment on others, my dear; but it takes a lion’s heart to be a part of that strike for whatever good reasons the doctors give…
I hope you must have seen the LIVE PROGRAM of MUBASHER LUQMAN at the DUNYA NEWS, in which he called the doctors and assured them of provision of their rights by even going to supreme court, and then to my surprise, the doctors announced the resuming of medical services just during that program… that means they were themselves disliking it and mourning over it… that means that they were just waiting for a help and a response from the higher authorities… and that also means that THEY ARE NOT DEMONS AT ALL…at least the ones who started the strike…
I don’t want to go in more technicalities as the ANONYMOUS DOCTOR FROM PIMS and many other doctors have expressed a lot, which I should not repeat.
To conclude my essay-cum-comment, I must say that you
have done a good job by writing this article as you have provided us the opportunity clear away many of the misunderstandings people had in their minds….
And to all the doctors and commentators out there:
Come on, don’t take it so seriously, prove that DOCTORS HAVE A BIG LIONS HEART AND CAN FACE CRITICISM WITH A SMILE ON THEIR FACES, AS USUAL…
And to the Author again: Be a student throughout your life… don’t mind again…
Glad to see that writing in tvoy really does matter.
@Syed Ahmed Raza. Thank you for your comments Ahmed. I don’t mind when m wrong ;)