Staff at Karachi's NICH boycott OPD for third day over security issues

For the third consecutive day, medical staff at the National Institute of Child Health in Karachi have boycotted the Outpatient Department (OPD), protesting against increasing incidents of violence and inadequate security measures at the facility.

The healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, have expressed their frustrations, stating that administrative negligence has led to a rise in assaults on staff members.

They are calling for immediate action to address the worsening security situation.

Protesters cited the hospital’s shortages of essential resources, such as medication, beds, and ventilators, as contributing factors to the unrest. These deficiencies have reportedly fueled the anger of patients' families, who often turn their frustrations toward the medical staff.

In recent days, several harassment incidents have exposed the institution’s insufficient security arrangements.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesting staff chanted slogans against poor security and vowed to continue their strike until their demands for improved safety and violence prevention measures are met

According to Express News, Doctors claim that recent days have seen harassment of medical personnel by patients' attendants, with multiple incidents occurring in just one day. They attributed the rise in violence to administrative negligence.

Doctors, nurses, and medical staff at the National Institute of Child Health staged a protest by boycotting the OPD in response to increasing violence within the hospital.

The staff deemed the hospital's security inadequate and demanded legal action against incidents of violence, along with the provision of additional security measures.

They expressed that due to shortages of medications, beds, ventilators, and personnel, doctors are facing significant challenges.

They are attempting to treat patients by collecting donations, but these issues often lead to attendants becoming agitated and resorting to violence.

Protesters, holding placards and banners, vocally condemned the hospital's poor security and administrative negligence.