The doctors' strike continued for the second consecutive day on Monday at all three major government hospitals in the city, with Outpatient Departments (OPDs) shut in protest against the alleged privatisation of public healthcare facilities.
The OPDs at Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH), Holy Family Hospital, and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital remained non-functional as doctors, under the banner of the Young Doctors Association (YDA), boycotted services.
Dr Arif Aziz, President of YDA at BBGH, stated that the proposed privatisation of public hospitals is "unacceptable under any circumstances" and demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision. While emergency and indoor services remained operational, the YDA warned of expanding the protest if their demands were not addressed.
According to YDA sources, the protest also stems from police action against doctors protesting in Lahore. Efforts by hospital administrations to continue OPD services have failed, forcing patients to turn to private clinics.
Meanwhile, health workers across the district also staged protests on the first day of the national anti-polio campaign. In Gujar Khan's Chakri area, and Union Council Phagwari and Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, workers boycotted the polio drive, protesting the outsourcing of basic health units and impending job cuts.
The protesting workers expressed deep concern over delayed salaries, job insecurity, and what they described as unjust dismissals. They warned that ongoing polio and dengue prevention campaigns could be disrupted.
Repeated attempts by The Express Tribune to contact Dr. Asif Arbab Niazi, Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority, for comments on the situation went unanswered.
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