Pakistan: Doctors’ strike in Balochistan enters 21st day, thousands of patients left stranded
Quetta, June 29 (IANS) The doctors strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province over an acid attack on a female doctor Mah Noor continued for 21st day, resulting in thousands of patients left stranded without medical care.
The strike in Balochistan is led by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Quetta Zone and the Young Doctors Association. Emergency units, operation theatres and dialysis continue to operate while the outpatients services remain suspended, forcing many elderly people, women and children to return home without medical treatment, Pakistan’s daily Dawn reported.
A PMA Quetta Zone spokesperson voiced concern over the lack of progress in conducting investigation into the acid attack on female doctor. The spokesperson said the Balochistan government has neither taken action against the perpetrators nor seriously addressed the demands of doctors.
The association have demanded a transparent and impartial judicial inquiry into the incident and removal of the provincial health secretary and the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Quetta until the inquiry is completed to prevent any interference, Dawn reported.
The PMA slammed the government for suspending and initiating disciplinary action against over 30 senior doctors and officers, calling the action unjust and insulting to the entire medical fraternity.
The PMA members will hold a general body meeting at Civil Hospital today to decide the future course of action. In addition, a protest rally will be held at the hospital on Tuesday.
The PMA urged Balochistan Chief Minister, chief secretary, provincial health minister, and chief justice to take action on the matter.
On June 17, a women’s rights movement, ‘Aurat March’ staged a protest outside the Islamabad Press Club against the acid attack on a female doctor at the Sandeman Civil Hospital in Quetta.
Human rights activists, political leaders, and representatives of various social organisations joined the demonstration, expressing solidarity with the victim, doctor Mah Noor Nasir, while strongly condemning the rising violence against women in the country.
During the demonstration, prominent human rights activist and Aurat March leader, Farzana Bari, voiced grave concern over the prevailing situation in the country.
“Too many incidents of violence against women are surfacing each day, showing us that this country is becoming like a graveyard for women, and the state and state institutions are completely failing to provide protection to us,” Pakistan’s digital media platform Voicepk.net quoted Bari as saying.
“We demand complete and proper medical treatment for Mahnoor. The police have killed the perpetrator, but I consider this to be unnecessary, as the police’s job is to arrest criminals while it is the job of the courts to sentence them. The patriarchal mindset has become so dangerous in Pakistan today that women are not safe in their homes, on the streets, or in their workplaces,” she added.
–IANS
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