Protesting doctors in Balochistan decided to continue their strike in all government hospitals throughout the province till all their demands were met, including reimbursement of ransom amount from the government kitty and arrest of culprits involved in the kidnapping and targeted killing of doctors. However they announced that all private hospitals and clinics would remain open.
This decision were taken by doctors in the general body meeting of Pakistan Medical Association Balochistan chapter on Thursday in the Sandeman hospital and was presided by Dr. Sultan Tareen. The meeting reviewed the situation in detail, after the release of senior psychiatrist Dr. Ghulam Rasool. Dr. Ghulam Rasool was abducted on August 1 by unknown men and was released on August 17, following the payment of a ransom amount of Rs 50 million. PMA had announced a strike over his abduction and suspended emergency services for 24 hours twice in all hospitals all over the province. However after the release of their colleague, they continued their strike in government hospitals demanding the arrest of abductors, but announced to resume their ‘business’ in private hospitals and clinics.
The general body prepared a four point charter of demands to be present to the provincial government and decided to continue their strike in government hospitals till their demands were met. These included reimbursement of the ransom amount from government proffers to the abducted doctors who had paid their captors to release them, security for all doctors inside and outside the hospitals, apprehension of the kidnappers of Dr. Ghulam and Dr. Deen Mohammad Baloch and culprits involved in targeted killings of doctors in the province. It had been clarified at the meeting that during the strike, no doctor would attend OPDs (Outdoor Patient Departments) and general wards throughout the province. However, it decided, the doctors will be available in emergency units. Due to the doctors’ three week long strike in government hospitals, the difficulties of the general public have increased manifold, as over 90% of the population from remote areas goes to government hospitals to get free treatment as well as medicines. Long queues of people including those from interior Balochistan were witnessed in government hospitals. Majority of them had to return home in disappointment after spending hours hoping that doctors would attend them.