LAHORE: Scores of young doctors and medical students got injured when law enforcers dispersed them by using pepper spray and tear gas during a protest against the system for making the National Licensing Exam (NLE) mandatory for registration.
Reports quoting sources said the Lahore police also baton-charged the participants while a couple of agitators fainted during a brawl near the Sapphire Hall in the Barkat Market area of the provincial capital.
It all started when around 300 protesters flocked near the Barkat Market and attempted to throng an examination center following which a heavy contingent of police rushed at the site and erect barricades and barbwires to keep off the young doctors away.
https://twitter.com/TLPiansss/status/1431938594604822528
Hero Of Doctor's Community & a man of actions @DrNumanOfficial.
So proud of u & more power to u sir.!#werejectNLE#ChemicalSprayOnDoctors pic.twitter.com/JnGceXv1nn— Arbab Shehryar (@ArbabShehryar10) August 29, 2021
During the protest, the demonstrators can be seen toting placards while demanding to revoke the compulsion of the National Licensing Exam. Let it be known that today’s event is the third such incident when young doctors have taken to the streets in Lahore.
Earlier on Friday, the Pakistan Medical Commission had canceled the exam in light of the situation and police dispersed the mob by using baton-charge as clashes broke out when agitators tried to barge the examination center. Some of the cops had fallen to the ground as a result of the scuffles with young doctors. The canceled NLE exam was scheduled to be held today (Sunday).
Walk outside NLe exam center#ChemicalSprayOnDoctors pic.twitter.com/bZQYsCW9xm
— KE Jamiat (@KEJamiat) August 29, 2021
Earlier, PMC had announced that exams for NLE will be carried out at designated PMC centers between August 20 to 27.
Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Usman Basra while speaking with a news outlet told that the incident is not the first time young doctors have protested while provincial health minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid reportedly interacted with some of the agitators. The protesting doctors are always welcomed to negotiate, but we can’t allow a student body to hold the state hostage, Basra said while adding that government is ready to talk.
He also mentioned that a committee of young doctors has been constituted to solve the matter.
What is National Licensing Examination?
The recently introduced NLE test has become the bone of contention between the medical bodies and young doctors. After the completion of the respective professional examinations (MBBS/BDS), students were required to undergo a mandatory house job or internship for the grant of full registration.
However, the officials have introduced an NLE test that the doctors had been asked to pass under section 20 of the Pakistan Medical Commission Act, 2020 to obtain a full license. The Pakistan Medical Commission has announced that in order to practice in the South Asian country, doctors will have to take a licensing exam after completing 5 years of education.
Earlier, dozens of MBBS/BDS students have approached the Lahore High Court as they challenge the imposition of a condition of medical licensing examination with retrospective effect. Young doctors are protesting as they claim the additional test was unfair as they had already passed the same exam to obtain the medical degree.
Future Strategy
Young Doctors Association office-bearer while speaking with a news outlet mentioned that they were peacefully protesting when police arrived and started dispersing them.
He warned to launch protest campaigns all over the country against the NLE and would not surrender till achieving their goal. Narrating his side of the story, he said the officials could take examinations from foreign doctors but why the local doctors who had reached the stage after sitting the entrance test were forced to appear in the NLE exam.
On the other hand, a number of politicians and civil society members condemned the police action. PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif condemned the stern action by police. “The use of batons and tear gas on doctors is regrettable,” former CM Punjab said adding that the doctors were fighting Covid while the government was fighting doctors.
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