Intern doctors protest amid ‘doctor’ title restriction

Staff Reporter :

Law enforcement officers halted a demonstration by intern doctors and medical students at the High Court gate around 12:30 PM on Tuesday.

Hundreds of interns and students from both government and private medical colleges initiated the “March for Justice” around 12:15 PM, advocating for five major reforms, including exclusive rights to the title “doctor” for MBBS and BDS degree holders. Earlier, the demonstrators gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar to oppose what they believe is an effort by medical assistants to gain the legal right to use the “doctor” title.

Several doctors also joined the protest.Speakers at the event pointed out that a writ petition was filed by medical assistants in 2013, seeking authorization to use the “doctor” title. With the case unresolved for 11 years, the protesters claimed that medical assistants have been improperly using the title despite legal limitations.

The High Court is expected to issue a ruling on the writ on Tuesday, and the protesters called for a prompt decision to prevent further unauthorized use of the title.Additionally, the demonstrators demanded the expedited hiring of 10,000 doctors and an increase in the BCS job entry age limit to 34 years.