Doctors threaten to widen strike over video controversy
Doctors serving in hospitals of Khushab district continued their strike for the third day and threatened to widen the scope of the protest if their demands are not fulfilled.
The strike was called by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) in protest against a video captured by members of the Tiger Force of a lady doctor sleeping in a room in a hospital.
The video went viral on social media, after which doctors in the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals in Khushab, Nowshera, Quaidabad and Noorpur Thal went on strike along with their colleagues in the basic health units.
According to sources, the doctors in the district hospital remained on strike for the third day. All departments at the health facilities were closed except for emergency and vaccination.
The incident triggering the protest took place on Friday and MPA Sajida Begum also visited the Khushab Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. Khushab District PMA President Dr Fazal Niazi addressed a press confereence on the issue on Friday evening.
“We were abused by the local MPA and three people accompanying her and the PMA condemns it. Doctors will remain on strike till a case is registered against the MPA and the suspects are arrested.”
On Saturday, doctors in the entire district went on strike on the call of the association and shut the outpatient departments. On the same day, PMA Khushab held an emergency meeting that was attended by doctors from across the district.
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The participants condemned then incident and backed the strike call. The local PMA said that if the case was not registered and the demands were not met, the scope of the strike would be widened.
When contacted, Tiger Force member from Khushab Masood Ahmad said it was not legal to set up a bedroom along with a ward. “We went to the tehsil headquarters hospital with MPA Sajida Begum on public complaints. The Tiger Force will not allow any illegal activities in any circumstances and we have waged an open war against corruption.”
MPA Sajida Begum alleged while speaking to The Express Tribune that the doctors were creating problems for the people instead of serving them. “It is unreasonable for all doctors to go on strike to cover up a colleague’s mistake,” she added.
She asked under which law the doctors had set up a room for resting in the hospital. She said the medical superintendent had told her that the assistant commissioner of Khushab had also raised objection over the room during a visit.
The legislator added that she had gone to the hospital after receiving public complaints about it. “I am an MPA and can visit any office. Talk to me with evidence and the PMA should not adopt an anti-people policy to save its member,” Sajida said.
She said the government had increased funds for medicines for the hospital manifold. The medicines are the right of poor people and they are complaining about this all the time. She further added that it is unfortunate that the doctors had closed the government hospitals but private hospitals were open.
“I will use all my energies to solve the problems of the people and protect their interests. I will continue to fight for the rights of the people in offices as well as the assembly,” she affirmed