Doctors strike: No action taken after deadline expires

Balochistan CM had warned the doctors to end their strike in 24 hours or face suspension; patients continue to suffer.

QUETTA:

The 24-hour deadline given to Balochistan doctors by Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani to end their strike has lapsed.

Hundreds of people have been suffering due to the doctors’ protests in Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. No action has so far been taken against the doctors in Quetta for continuing their protests despite the lapse of the CM's deadline.

Balochistan Chief Minister had warned the doctors to end their strike in 24 hours or face suspension. Also, besides the emergency wards at the provincial Sandeman Hospital and Bolan medical complex, all general wards and out patient departments are closed.

On the other hand, doctors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been protesting for the last two weeks demanding an increase in salaries. They have suspended their duties at all public sector hospitals in the province. Senior doctors at Peshawar's major hospitals say dozens of patients have died in the past few days after being denied treatment by the striking doctors.

The strike by young doctors in Quetta demanding higher pay and better working conditions is now approaching a month.