LAHORE: The Punjab Government’s Health Department has decided to terminate the doctors on strike, along with blacklisting them from taking up any position in public services in the future, Express News reported Sunday night.



Senior doctors held two rounds of talks with the young doctors, during the day and in the evening, but the doctors refused to end the strike, after which the senior doctors told the government to take the next required course of action.



The Punjab government has decided to appoint 1000 medical officers on Monday. A list of those doctors has been acquired from the Public Service Commission (PSC) by Secretary Health. Walk-in interviews will be held on Monday and Tuesday.



Outdoor patients in hospitals of Lahore and throughout Punjab will start receiving treatment from Monday onwards.



Earlier in the day, The Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) refused to end their strike at the 3pm deadline given by the Punjab government.



During the day, speaking to the media YDA members showed some flexibility in their demands, but then later refused to call off the strike, after the general body meeting, until all their demands were met.



There was no consensus amongst the doctors on ending the strike.



The Punjab government had given them a deadline of 3pm to end their strike, or strict action would be taken against them, including termination. The provincial government has decided to hire 454 female doctors along with deputing 150 doctors from the army medical corp.



All of these doctors would check patients in the hospital’s outdoor ward.



Meanwhile in Gujranwala, 150 doctors responsible for the strike there, are to be arrested, according to a list obtained by Express News, which has been prepared by the provincial and federal agencies.



The list comprise of 80 young doctors, 70 senior doctors and 18 lady doctors.



According to sources, the arrests would begin tonight.



MS Civil Hospital Captain Zafar said that 16 doctors from the army corp will take charge of the outdoor ward at the hospital on Monday.



YDA leader Dr Kashif Bilal has threatened to withdraw doctors from operation theatres if any arrests took place.