MIANWALI, Oct 17: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Mianwali chapter, has announced strike in government hospitals and health centres against the behaviour of the district management.

In a meeting here on Friday, presided over by PMA Mianwali president Dr Atta Muhammad Malik, the association expressed concern at the ‘arrogant’ behaviour of District Officer for Revenue Khwaja Adil Umer who visited the District Headquarters Hospital before 8am on Friday, seated himself in the medical superintendent’s chair and marked five senior doctors absent from duty.

PMA members unanimously agreed to observe a strike on Oct 20 across the district.

DOR Umer says the district coordination officer sent him to the hospital to check doctors’ attendance. He said he marked five doctors absent from duty after they did not turn up till 8:10am. He said he would not succumb to doctors’ tactics.

DCO Wasim Ajmal Chaudhry paid a surprise visit to the hospital on Oct 7 and warned doctors and paramedics against absence from duty.

He also told doctors to prescribe only those medicines to poor patients that were available at the hospital store.

The PMA has also threatened to observe strike against the ‘humiliating’ attitude of the DCO.