Medical Demands: Patients leave hospital during strike

KARACHI: Hundreds of expecting mothers were hurriedly rushed from the Sobhraj Maternity Home Hospital to other government and private hospitals after doctors of the maternity home staff continued their strike for a third day. They are protesting outbreaks of violence and attacks by attendants. Last week staff were attacked after a newborn baby died. Hundreds of scheduled surgeries were cancelled and admitted patients were asked to go to other hospitals. The doctors held a meeting with Karachi’s Pakistan Medical Association’s (PMA) president, Prof. Idrees Adhi.  The doctors demanded more security, guards and watchmen. Prof. Shabnam Asim said that her hospital conducts more than 5,000 deliveries every year and harassment of its doctors was unacceptable.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2011.