Doctors' strike shuts down OPD services

In protest against the privatisation of public hospitals in Punjab and the violent crackdown on demonstrating doctors in Lahore, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) staged a strike across all three allied hospitals in Rawalpindi on Saturday, bringing outpatient services (OPDs) to a standstill.

The strike, observed at Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, left thousands of patients in distress as they were turned away from closed OPDs and forced to seek care at private clinics.

According to YDA President Dr Arif Aziz at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, the move to privatise public healthcare institutions is unacceptable.

"We strongly condemn the use of water cannons and force against our fellow doctors in Lahore who were peacefully protesting," he said, expressing solidarity with the injured protesters.

While emergency and indoor services remained operational, YDA sources warned that the protest could escalate to include those departments if their demands are not met. Attempts by hospital administrations to resume OPD services with the help of senior doctors largely failed.

The YDA maintains that the government must immediately halt its privatisation plans and address the concerns of healthcare professionals to prevent further disruption of medical services across Punjab.

Meanwhile, patient advocacy groups and civil society members have urged both the government and the protesting doctors to find a middle ground, stressing that prolonged disruption in healthcare services disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable who rely on public hospitals for treatment. Health rights activists have called for immediate dialogue to resolve the impasse, warning that continued shutdowns of OPDs could lead to a public health crisis. Several patients at Holy Family Hospital expressed frustration over being turned away without treatment, while others said they had to borrow money to visit private clinics.