ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: Doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) have called a meeting on Monday to devise a strategy for the security of doctors, and would also consider a strike if the hospital administration does not meet their demands. These doctors belong to a group within the Young Doctors Association (YDA) called YDA Federal. However, the main leadership of the YDA has announced that it should not be associated with the meeting as it was not in favour of putting patients in trouble. The meeting is being held in response to the incident which occurred on October 13 after a 60-year-old woman died in the emergency department. The deceased`s relatives then tortured doctors and other medical staff in the department, and as a result, Dr Rashid and Dr Rafie, who were on duty, were injured. Soon after, doctors went on strike and the emergency department remained closed for two hours. A complaint against the relatives was also lodged by the hospital management, and the Margalla police later arrested four people who had tortured the doctors. However, doctors maintained that the four people arrested were not the main accused in the incident.A doctor at Pims, requesting not to be identified, said `The suspects involved in torturing the doctors could not be arrested. Now, we have decided to hold a meeting on Monday at 10am at the doctors` cafeteria to devise a future line of action. We will also consider withdrawing our services from OPD of the hospital,` he said. He added that after the incident, the hospital management was requested to hold an inquiry. Furthermore, it was asked to establish a police checkpost in Pims and display the list of police officials deputed at the checkpost in the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). `Security for doctors, paramedical and supporting staff is very important for the smooth delivery of health services. The management has to ensure a fool proof security system because in the past, several attendants of patients have beaten up doctors. The management only gave us mere assurances,` the doctor said. He added that doctors were united on the issue and were waiting for the administration`s serious attitude to improve deficiency in security during working hours. The general secretary of YDA Federal, Dr Fartash Sarwar, told Dawn that the police had not arrested the actual culprits due to which the organisation haddecided to call a meeting on Monday. `A strike is not our priority, but if management does not provide us security and police do not arrest the actual culprits, we will go on strike. If the police and the management do not show seriousness and take positive steps by Monday morning, we will have to stage a protest,` he maintained. On the other hand, the president of YDA Islamabad, Dr Asfandyar Khan, told Dawn that the association had also participated in the protest and strike held on October 13. However, the issue was now over as an FIR had been registered against the culprits and four suspects were already under arrest. `The former executive director of Pims established YDA Federal to counter the main YDA, and it is now using this issue for mere politics. We will not take part in a strike if YDA Federal announces it as we don`t want to put patients in trouble,` he said. The spokesperson of Pims, Dr Ayesha Esani, when contacted said an inquiry had been launched against the security lapse and soon it would be completed. She added that the report will be handed over to doctors. `The management is also taking steps to ensure security of doctors and staff to avoid such incidents in the future,` she said.