PMA condemns attack on hospital

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expressed concern over the unexpected attack on Karachi Central Hospital last night, leaving the entire medical community in a state of shock and distress.

On behalf of the members of our organisation', we vehemently condemn this heinous act of violence and urgently call for decisive action to ensure justice is served, said the PMS official statement issued on Monday.

The assailants forcibly entered the hospital by breaking the main gate between 1am to 2am. They subjected our watchman to brutal violence, restraining him with ropes, and proceeded to loot valuable items such as computers, laptops, and batteries from the solar system. They also vandalised the hospital's CCTV system.

Following the incident, the response from the local police has been indifferent, displaying reluctance to file an FIR, a basic right for every victim.

The attack on the hospital is not merely an assault on a medical facility but a direct violation of the principle of providing healthcare services to the public without fear or prejudice.

Established as a project of the PMA, Karachi Central Hospital has been offering services to underprivileged citizens free of charge or at the lowest rates since 2018, distinguishing it from other private facilities.

We demand that the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order take swift and decisive action to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this attack.

This act of violence must not go unpunished under any circumstances, said the statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2023.