Doctors’strike continues in Rawalpindi

Government indicates to sack such doctors

RAWALPINDI: The strike of Grand Alliance (GA) entered into tenth day on Saturday due to which patients faced a great deal of problems at hospitals. The GA staged a protest demonstration against the Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) Act while the alliance has announced to extend its strike to Wards from Monday.

On the other hand, the Punjab government has come into action and it has directed the Additional Secretary Specialized healthcare and Medical Education, Dr. Nasir Shakir, to formulate a list of all protesting medical and para-medical staff from Medical Superintendents (MSs). The government has indicated that it would sack such doctors.

Subsequently, the GA has recalled that they would not be threatened by any such moves by the government.

The Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH), Poly Clinic Hospital (PCH) and District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) has been completely disrupted while every other patient who comes to the OPD for consultation is admitted.  Only 15% patients are being examined everyday through alternate system while the rest of them return without getting a treatment. The patients who came to Rawalpindi from adjoining cities are suffering  the most. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2019.