Up in arms : Doctors, paramedics take to the streets

ABBOTABAD:

Doctors and paramedical staff at Benazir Shaheed Teaching Hospital (BSTH), Abbottabad observed a strike on Friday following a scuffle between locals and hospital workers. Speaking on the occasion, Doctors Association President Ziaur Rehman said a man was killed while four others were wounded in a firing incident in Sheikhul Bandi village on Thursday evening.

“The deceased and injured were brought to the facility,” he said. “However, doctors and paramedical staff were treating patients in the emergency ward and did not immediately attend to the wounded villagers.”

According to the insider, some villagers thrashed the hospital staff in a fit of rage and locked Medical Superintendent Dr Minhajul Haq inside a room. They also ransacked several wards and offices.

Rehman said police officials and a DSP, who were present on the hospital premises when the scuffle broke out, did nothing to stop locals from attacking hospital staff. Demonstrators urged the police to register an FIR against the incident and take action against police officials who had refused to take prompt action on Thursday evening.

During the protest, services at the out-patient department remained suspended throughout the day.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th,  2015.