Balochistan hospitals: Doctors to escalate protests

Patients complain as OPDs of four major state-run hospitals remain closed.

QUETTA:

Junior doctors took to the streets on Monday and torched their lab coats at the main Jinnah Road intersection in Quetta in protest against what they said was government apathy and inaction.

Representatives of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) warned that they would intensify the protest if their demands were not met by Tuesday (today).

“Doctors performing their duties in the morning (shift) would also go on strike from Tuesday [today]. But they will attend emergency cases,” said Dr Asif Baloch of YDA.

On the other hand, the out-patient departments (OPDs) of all four major state-run hospitals – Sandeman Hospital, Bolan Medical Complex (BMC), Fatimah Jinnah TB Sanatorium and Helper Eye Hospital – remained closed, forcing the cancellation of all scheduled surgical procedures.

Currently, patients are being looked after by dispensers and technicians present at the hospitals, instead of professional doctors. The head of the cardiology department at the Sandeman Hospital said that technicians were providing medical assistance to heart patients.

“I have started putting in more hours because of the doctors’ strike. There is no doctor available after 2:00 pm and technicians are attending heart patients. Their demands are legitimate and we support them, but the way they are protesting is wrong,” he added.

The provincial health department has launched an inquiry into the death of three patients caused by the absence of immediate medical care at the Sandeman Hospital.

Balochistan Health Secretary Asmathullah Kakar said he held a meeting with the doctors and assured them that if the salaries in the other three provinces are increased, then Balochistan will make a decision accordingly.

“I prepared a proposal and will send it to the chief minister, chief secretary and health minister for approval. I had clearly told (the protesters) that their strike was illegal and immoral. Other provinces have so far not increased the salaries of doctors. If they do, Balochistan will definitely consider it,” said Kakar.

“The doctors, however, did not respond to this proposal. I think once the chief minister approves this proposal, doctors will call off their strike.”

He, however, warned that he had told the doctors that if the strikes continued unabated, the government would be forced to take legal action against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2011.