OPDs closed in protest against attack on doctors

Health dept suspends three YDA leaders, sacks three other doctors

QUETTA: Outpatient departments (OPD) in hospitals across Quetta wore a deserted look on Thursday after a strike by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan against the alleged assault of lady doctors in Civil Hospital Quetta.

While the emergency ward remained functional, the OPDs in the provincial capital, as well as other major cities, remained closed due to the strike.

It caused a lot of distress to patients, particularly those who travelled to government hospitals in Quetta from the rest of the province.

In response, the provincial health department of Balochistan has taken stern action against the medical staff as well as doctors for shutting down OPDs and other services in hospitals.

According to the health department, leaders of YDA Balochistan including Dr Hafeez Mandokhail, Dr Haneef Luni and Dr. Malik Yaseenzai have been suspended from their services and directed to report to health department. It has also terminated the services of three other doctors, namely Dr Aurangzaib Khan, Dr Nasar Ullah Achakzai and Dr Malik Kakar, over the same issue.

Health department officials say that following the incident of alleged harassment, a police report had been lodged and three suspects had been arrested by the police.

They contend that high-ranking police officials had assured the doctors that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the harassment.

However, the officials added, the YDA tried to conflagrate the situation by locking down trauma centres and barring staff from entering the premises. They also stopped a government representative from visiting the hospital by challenging the writ of the government,” they added.

The health department has also warned doctors that failure to perform their duties and any attempts to interfere with the responsibility of other staff members would result in strict disciplinary action from the government.