HYDERABAD: Officebearers of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Hyderabad chapter have demanded of the Sindh government and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) vice chancellor to implement enhanced paid slots of postgraduate (PG) students, increase the amount of stipend and payment of stipend to over 200 PG students-cum-doctors immediately.

YDA president Dr Murad Qureshi, office-bearers and members made the demand while addressing a press conference held at the local press club on Wednesday.

`The Sindh High Court has ordered payment of stipend to over 200 PG students-cum-doctors around a year ago and the Sindh chief minister also asked for their payment six months ago while acting upon the court order,` Dr Murad Qureshi said.

Stating that the LUMHS vice chancellor was reluctant to pay the outstanding stipend to PGs, he said that over 200 PGs were working without the stipend Rs42,000 for 14 months.

He also claimed that the Sindh chief minister also enhanced the stipend from Rs42,000 to Rs65,000 and it was being paid in all varsities of Sindh.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had announced the increase in the number of paid slots of postgraduate students during inauguration of the international dental conference held at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) in October 2016.

But LUMHS vice chancellor was not implementing the enhanced paid slots and the 250 PGs were being paid Rs42,000 while 200 PGs were not paid being the stipend. Another 250 PGs were being paid Rs42,000 instead of the enhanced stipend of Rs65,000, he said.

YDA office-bearers said that more than 450 PGs were studying at LUMHS and serving at Liaquat University Hospitals Hyderabad and Jamshoro.

They warned that if their demands were not fulfilled, they would boycott OPDs and wards` duties soon.

They also protested outside the local press club to press the government for acceptance of their demands forthwith.