Power cuts: Doctors boycott duties in protest

Doctors said despite paying Rs7.4 million annually in electricity bills, they were confronted with the crisis.

LANDI KOTAL: Doctors and paramedical staff boycotted duties in protest over the prolonged power cuts at Agency Headquarters Hospital on Tuesday. They stated that it was impossible for them to treat patients in the absence of electricity, as the out patient department and operation theatre run on generators, for which the political administration has not disbursed fuel charges. However to cater to emergency cases, the labour room and emergency wards would remain open while the rest of the hospital will not function unless they are provided with interrupted supply of power. They further said that despite paying Rs7.4 million annually in electricity bills for the hospital, they were confronted with the crisis. An official of the political administration Arshad Khan negotiated with the medical staff but could not convince them to call off the protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2013.