SWABI: Doctors and paramedical staff of Yar Hussain hospital here on Thursday observed a complete strike and stayed away from work in protest against lack of security for them.

According to doctors, a group of people threatened one of their colleagues of dire consequences on Wednesday when they brought a patient and ordered him in threatening tone to treat him as per their demand, but the doctor told them to let him work.

They said it was the sixth such incident in the last two weeks in the category-C hospital, which catered to the patients of six union councils of Yar Hussain East and West, Doubian, Sodher, Sard Cheena and Yaqubi.

The doctors and other staff announced to go on strike during a meeting on Thursday morning and vowed to continue it till acceptance of their demand for provision of proper security.

They said the circumstances had forced the hospital staff to observe strike because they were not allowed to work independently. They said that they had already contacted the local politicians and apprised them of the prevailing situation, but to no avail.

The hospital employees said that the district administration and district health officer should come forward and help them. They also accused the ruling party activists of interference in the hospital matters while demanding facilities not available in the health unit.

Briefing mediapersons, medical officer Dr Abdul Jabar said that local people often threatened them of dire consequences while there was no security mechanism for them.

“The female doctors and nurses of the hospital also face threats and abuses. This is no longer acceptable to us, ” said Asfandyar Khalil, another medical officer. The patients of the area also faced problems due to the strike in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Razaar tehsil assistant commissioner visited the hospital and assured the protesting doctors that all possible steps would be taken for their security. However, the hospital staff vowed to continue strike till concrete steps were taken for their security.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021