In K-P, doctors warn of complete strike from today

Health minister says protest is only about transfer of doctors to addresses listed in their domiciles


Our Correspondent May 02, 2019
PHOTO: REUTERS

PESHAWAR: Doctors have said they will not work in their hometowns and even stop attending to sick and ailing people if the government forces them to.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Doctors Council, a representative body of a section of doctors, said they will not perform duties in public healthcare facilities across the province.

The protest call follows earlier boycott of OPD and emergency wards at major government hospitals in the provincial capital.

Many people get admission in medical colleges on basis of domicile of their underdeveloped areas, however, after becoming a doctor they refuse to go back and serve people in their villages.

However, after introduction of district health authority, regional health authority and transfer of doctors to area of domicile, doctors have launched a protest campaign on the call of K-P Doctors Council.

The council has announced total boycott of health services from May 2.

On the other side of the protest of the doctors, relatives of patients have been seen arguing with protesting doctors in public hospitals.

Few incidents of scuffles have also been recorded between relatives of patients and doctors refusing to provide relief to people in distress.

According to reports, doctors were attending to on only emergency services in ICU and CCU, while all surgeries have been suspended till next announcement of the council.

While the only MTI hospital Lady reading would also boycott from second May next month, while the doctors have warned that if their demanded don’t met soon, they would boycott from private clinic soon.

Meanwhile, Lady Reading Hospital Board of Directors Chairman Dr Nowsherwan Burki has already warned the district health officers and other doctors to attend their duties or face strict action.

Earlier, health ministry had formed a committee to probe into the issue of doctors’ protest and report their grievances over transfer to the addresses of their domicile.

However, Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamuulah has said criminal cases will be filed against doctors not attending their duties.

Talking to the media during his visit to Batt Khela District Headquarter Hospital, Inam said there were no plans to privatise public hospitals.

“The real purpose of the strike of doctors is transfer and posting of some doctors to undeveloped areas,” he said.

The heath minister said that as per new order, doctors refusing to work will be charged under criminal law.

He urged the doctors to let the reforms take place: “if your jobs are not secured and people do not get better healthcare, you are free to punish me anyway you want.”

He reiterated that reforms in the health sector were meant to facilitate the people of the province who had voted for him.

Inam said that health ministry was completely autonomous. Nowsherwan Burki comes to Pakistan from the US on his own expenses for the service of the nation.

Being the architect of health reforms, Burki’s only fault is that he is a cousin of PM Imran Khan, on which doctors try to defame him. “I myself gave up US nationality to come to Pakistan and serve the nation,” Inam said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2019.

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