Patients Suffer: Doctors’ strike enters fourth day

QUETTA: Doctors in Balochistan continued their province-wide strike at state-run hospitals for the fourth consecutive day, demanding salary increments and other benefits equivalent to doctors performing their duties in the federal capital.

All the out-patient departments (OPDs) remained closed while scheduled operations were cancelled.

The strike call was given by Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan.

The patients, who were present in large numbers at the hospitals, severely criticised the government and doctors for not realising the difficulties and hardships faced by poor patients.

“We cannot afford private hospitals. I do not know what the doctors want, but I request and beg the government to overcome this issue because the poor people are suffering”, said Mohammad Khan, a man who brought his brother for treatment.

OPDs and operation theatres at all the major hospitals of the provincial capital remained closed.



Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2011.