Fulfil promise within 48 hours or face music, YDA warns government

Young doctors say despite assurances by home minister no step taken to address woes

QUETTA: The Young Doctors Association and the Paramedical Staff Association have given the provincial government an ultimatum of 48 hours to deliver on its promise made a month earlier for the resolution of their problems or face the music.

Currently, all outdoor patient departments (OPDs) of government hospitals across the province have been closed, but after expiry of the deadline, the emergency departments and wards will also be put on the boycott list.



A month earlier, the young doctors had started protesting for provision of basic facilities at all government hospitals across the province and on the assurance of Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Sarfraz Bugti had called off their strike.

On Saturday, the strike entered its second day causing great hardships to the patients.

The OPDs in government hospitals in Quetta were locked for the second day with YDA and PMSA setting up their protest camp inside the premises of the civil hospital.

Paramedical Staff Association President Jamal Shah Kakar said, “We have been demanding basic health facilities at all government hospitals, but we don’t know why the provincial government isn’t showing seriousness towards revamping the health structure in Balochistan.”



The YDA called off its strike on March 18 last month after the home minister flanked by Opposition Leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal assured doctors that the provincial government would approve their summary consisting up to 100% salary increment.

“Despite our last dialogue with the home minister, a notification has not been issued yet. The Balochistan chief minister, chief secretary and health officials aren’t taking the responsibility of approving the summary. We don’t know who has their remote,” said Kakar.

Patients pouring in the city from all over the province were frustrated by the OPDs’ closure.

“I don’t know if doctors care about poor patients who are visiting Quetta from remote areas of the province,” said an angered Muhammad Ishaq, who brought his mother for treatment to the civil hospital, but found the OPD entrance gate locked. “Under the garb of healthcare in hospitals, doctors just want increase in their salaries.”

Besides Ishaq, many other patients, majority of them women and children, were seen waiting outside the OPDs.

“I came from Mach as I was optimistic that senior doctors will check my brother, but no one is here and I can’t afford to take him to private hospitals,” said Fazalur Rehman.