LAHORE: Young doctors continued their strike at the outpatient department of the Services Hospital for the eighth working day on Tuesday while seeking some `concessions` from the health authorities allegedly for face saving.

The hospital administration succeeded in partially opening the OPD for a couple of hours on Tuesday through the recently recruited medical officers, but the number of patients was abysmally low, a Young Doctors Association (YDA) insider told Dawn.

`Keeping in view the growingnumber of (YDA) dissidents, the leadership approached senior officers in the health department through back channel. The health high-ups have been conveyed the request for at least withdrawing for our face saving the action taken against two doctors of south Punjab for protesting against the central induction policy.

First senior doctors started manning the emergency department and then indoor wards and now our members have also started resuming their duties at the indoor wards,` he said, seeking anonymity.

He said the case of Dr AtifMajeed and others was not taken up with the health department.

Talks were under way with the anti-corruption authorities over the issue, said the insider, adding that the YDA was anxiously waiting health department response.

A group of medics had shut down emergency department of the Services Hospital on Feb 20, forcing even the critically ill patients to leave the ward. The doctors allegedly turned offensive towards serious patients of emergency department when a team of the AntiCorruption Establishment tried toarrest senior doctor Atif Majeed for his alleged involvement in embezzlement of medicines meant for poor patients visiting the health facility.

A resident of Ghaziabad died due to denial of treatment during the YDA strike in Services Hospital emergency on Feb 24.

Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SHME) Department constituted a committee to probe into the death and also requested the Punjab Healthcare Commission to inquire into the matter as per its relevant laws, rules and regulations. Staff Reporter