Balochistan-wide: Doctors threaten to intensify strike

Hunger strike initiated by doctors in Quetta enters its 39th day.

QUETTA:

In a move to intensify the ongoing doctors’ strike in Balochistan’s state-run hospitals, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has decided to pile pressure on the government for the swift recovery of cardiologist Dr Munaf Tareen.

During a general body meeting, the PMA along with the Balochistan Medical Association, Baloch Doctors Forum and Young Doctors Association threatened to extend their partial boycott of Outdoor Patient Wards (OPD). “We may intensify our strike after the Muharram processions to completely boycott OPDs at all state-run hospital,” a doctor told The Express Tribune.



According to a PMA press release, the announcement of the boycott is expected to be made on Wednesday. The hunger strike initiated by doctors at the Provincial Sandeman Hospital entered its 39th day on Tuesday.  Doctors had not attended to patients at OPDs at all five hospitals of Balochistan after 11:00 a.m. “There is complete unity in our ranks,” said Dr Anwar Jan Mandokhel. “We will not give up the struggle.”

Dr Tareen was kidnapped by a group of armed men near his hospital at the Pishin bus stop in Quetta on September 17. As many as 26 doctors have been kidnapped for ransom in the last few years.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2013.