The Grand Health Alliance - a coalition of doctors, nurses, and allied health staff - intensified its protest today by holding a sit-in in front of the Punjab Assembly.
The protestors, who have been voicing their concerns over low wages, poor working conditions, and inadequate benefits, decided to close the OPDs of all major government hospitals in Punjab, disrupting healthcare services and drawing widespread attention to their demands.
In a quick response to the disruption, the Punjab Health Department issued a directive to all medical superintendents of government hospitals, instructing them to immediately suspend the salaries of any healthcare workers absent without authorization.
The Health Department emphasised that the salaries of these individuals would only be reinstated once they report back to their respective hospitals and resume their regular duties.
To enforce this directive, the Health Department also banned all forms of leave for doctors, nurses, and allied health staff, ensuring that no medical personnel would be allowed to take time off during the ongoing protest.
They have been instructed to return to their duties immediately, with the department warning of further disciplinary action if they fail to comply.
