The strike of doctors in Balochistan that started on October 16 following the kidnapping of Dr Saeed Khan, entered its 32nd day on Sunday, creating enormous problems for poor patients. Despite Balochistan government’s 24-hour deadline to end the strike, the medics boycotted OPDs on Sunday, and warned that emergency wards would also be closed on 9th and 10th Muharram if authorities failed to recover Dr. Saeed Khan. Khan was kidnapped on October 16 from his clinic at Sariyab Road, Quetta. According to Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan President Sultan Tareen, kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom to release Dr Saeed and the provincial government seems helpless in capturing the abductors. All OPDs in major hospitals in Quetta remained closed due to the absence of doctors. The situation has amalgamated the problems of patients who cannot afford to visit expensive private hospitals. However, doctors attended patients in emergency wards and private hospitals.
