LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday took exception to the culture of strike in the medical profession and observed that the doctors involved in strikes should be transferred to far-flung areas as a punishment.

Justice Shahid Karim observed that the medical profession had no room for politics and protests. The judge was hearing a petition against lack of adequate facilities and free medicines in emergency wards of public and private hospitals. A young doctor filed the petition through Advocate Azhar Siddique.

Justice Karim expressed concern over the state of affairs in the health sector and the strike culture among doctors.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that there was a shortage of doctors in hospitals as well besides a lack of other medical facilities for the patients visiting the emergency wards especially. He asked the court to order the provincial government to ensure provision of satisfactory facilities at both public and private hospitals.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Jan 19 and sought a report from the Punjab Healthcare Commission on the matter. He also directed the commission to apprise the court about the prices of medical tests being charged at the hospitals.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2022