The Balochistan government has decided to take back the official residences from protesting doctors after they declined to give up their strike and resume healthcare responsibilities in government hospitals.
According to government sources, the decision was made in a late night meeting of provincial high-ups. On this occasion, the officials said the striking doctors would be driven out of the official residences.
Earlier, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan called for a strike after abduction of Dr Saeed Ahmed Khan, an eye specialist and head of Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Hospital on October 16.
Later, the PMA demanded his recovery and urged the officials concerned to provide protection to doctors in the province.
The provincial government failed to recover Dr Saeed thus prompting the PMA to boycott their duties until his recovery. In response, the provincial government had suspended three protesting doctors.
Meanwhile, Quetta Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hashim Ghalazai and Assistant Commissioner sent a heavy contingent of police to Civil Hospital to re-open its emergency ward. Hospital emergency wards reopened after some of the doctors returned to their duties after a week-long strike.
Health Secretary Ismatullah Kakar said if young doctors did not show up at their duty places, they would be sacked from services.
The secretary also struck down the deputation of Young Doctors Association (YDA) President Dr. Abdus Samad Panezai in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College. He also cancelled the job orders of on-strike house officers posted at Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex.
Moreover, the provincial Home Department also imposed a ban on the on-strike doctors which barred them from entering government hospitals.
FC personnel were deployed outside public hospitals to avoid any untoward situation from happening.
I think Government of Balcuhistan should be preferred dialogue with the doctors whose on strike rather than to taken any coercive action or measured. On the other hand, the doctors should be realized their responsibility and must be fear with their profession. Thanks.
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