PESHAWAR: Frequent strikes by employees at the public sector hospitals apparently for resolution of their demands, has been troubling poor patients, who are dependent on free treatment.

Strikes often take place for fulfillment of medics’ demands for promotion, upgradation and enhancement of perks and privileges, but they cause troubles for the people seeking immediate medical attention due to critical illnesses.

A few days ago, the province’s biggest Lady Reading Hospital remained shut for three days as its employees went on a strike against mishandling of a technician by relatives of a patient.

The patients visiting the LRH, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex bear the brunt of the frequent strikes.

A senior physician describes the situation as alarming for poor patients. Affluent can seek treatment in private hospitals but poor people totally bank on the public sector health facilities for free treatment, he said, adding private clinics of doctors flourished in days when strikes took place in teaching hospitals.

The government’s move to replace the old rotten system will a far cry if hospitals are forced shut on petty demands by the employees.

The government, with a view to bringing improvement in the healthcare delivery system, has also appointed a 10-member board of governors for the four teaching hospitals to implement the government plan.

Though there are positive changes taking place at the teaching hospitals, there’s no mechanism to prevent employees’ strikes.

The doctors and paramedics can hold walks, stage demonstrations or hold press conferences to make their protests registered but hindering healthcare to poor people through strikes should be topped. Healthcare providers can use other ways to resolve their problems.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2015

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