Doctors’ demands

Letter April 08, 2020
Government’s irresponsibility and inability led the doctors to voice their concerns and genuine grievances in public

SHIKARPUR: The Covid-19 pandemic has given much importance to medical professionals around the world. Doctors are playing an outstanding part in taking proper care of coronavirus patients and trying to find a cure for the deadly disease. The doctor’s community that remained in the forefront in the fight against the virus that originated first in Wuhan, China, was paid glowing and rich tributes on account of their invaluable services rendered for the well-being of the suffering patients with indomitable will and strong determination. On the other hand the same community has been facing multiple problems including unavailability of protective gears, quality masks and other required things to combat the coronavirus in this part of the world since they were tasked to deal with the infected cases effectively.

If the doctors’ repeated requests and efforts to the government for the provision of personal protective equipment went in vain, if their voices were not heard on the priority basis in the state of the worst crisis, the incidents of protest on the part of doctors were sure to take place. It was reported in media that 13 young doctors have fallen prey to this deadly virus due to provincial government’s apathy of not being able to provide them with necessary equipment for their safety. This feeling of vulnerability compelled the doctors to exercise their democratic right of protest in Quetta keeping in view the protection of their precious lives.

The government’s irresponsibility and inability led the doctors to voice their concerns and genuine grievances in public. In such circumstances, instead of making use of the voice of sanity and leadership on the part of the government, the doctors’ peaceful protest was mishandled by the brute use of force. The voice of sanity must prevail in today’s challenging times otherwise we will suffer in the long term.

It would be wise enough for the government to immediately release the saviours who are in dire need of the general public at this moment of crisis and their demands must be met for the sake of their own lives and those of others’ as well.

Azhar Azad Mughal

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2020.

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