Police break up doctors' protest in Peshawar, several arrested

Protest against the privatisation of government health facilities in the province

PESHAWAR: Police on Friday used force to disperse protesting doctors near Lady Reading Hospital and arrested several protesters.

The doctors and paramedics were protesting against privatisation of government health facilities in the province.

The protesters were baton-charged and tear gas was used to break the protest, several were reportedly injured. At least 20 were also arrested.

Among the injured are President Peshawar Young Doctors Association Dr Rizwan Kandi and Chairman Grand Health Alliance Dr Alamgir. Several others have been detained.

Health services boycotted over GHA protest

Sources said the administration had left the patients at the mercy of protesting health workers who had halted all Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) services. All surgical procedures at the hospital were also postponed due to the protest.

Senator Atta-ur-Rehman took notice of the violence and expressed deep concern over the detention of doctors by the police.

Earlier, doctors’ organisations and medical staff had announced to end the dialogue with government over the deadlock in health authorities bill. All departments excluding emergency were shut down for an indefinite period in all public hospitals across the province.