QUETTA: Protesting doctors in Balochistan called off their 58-day strike on Thursday after the provincial government announced they will be reinstated to their posts, with all charges against them dropped.
“After successful negotiations with the doctors, we have decided that all cases against them will be withdrawn and they will be reinstated,” said provincial health secretary Asmatullah Kakar, at a joint press conference with Pakistan Medical Association’s (PMA) Balochistan chapter president Dr Sultan Tareen held at the Quetta Commissioner office.
“Many poor people have suffered as a result of this strike… In the future, both the doctors and the government must work together to provide welfare to poor patients,” he added.
Announcing the end of the strike, Dr Tareen said “doctors will resume their duties in state-run hospitals, clinics, emergency wards, operation theatres and out-patient departments starting today (Thursday).” He thanked Quetta Commissioner Qamber Dashti for sorting out the doctors’ issues and helping them wind up the strike.
Condemning the killing of Dr Lakshmi Chand in Mastung and the kidnapping of Dr Aziz Baloch, the PMA provincial president demanded the arrest of elements involved in the two incidents.
The strike began on October 16 after eye specialist Dr Saeed was kidnapped from the provincial capital’s Sariab Road locality. The strike came to a head on November 19, when police arrested around 70 protesting doctors who had been marching towards the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. In retaliation, PMA’s Balochistan chapter closed all state-run and private hospitals across the province, suspending all emergency services. Subsequently, the government suspended over 90 doctors and sealed their private clinics.
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