LOWER DIR: People on Wednesday blocked the road outside the District Headquarters Hospital, Timergara, here against the authorities for not resolving an ongoing tussle between the hospital’s management and Young Doctors’ Association, which has crippled the healthcare delivery for the last three days.

The protesters chanted slogans against the hospital management.

Addressing the rally, Jamaat-i-Islami district secretary information Shoaib Ahmad, PPP’s district secretary information Alam Zeb Advocate, Nawabzada Irfan and others demanded of the authorities concerned to resolve the tiff between the management and YDA so doctors could resume their duties.

Meanwhile, addressing a doctors’ protest, YDA leader Dr Waqar Alam accused the hospital’s administration of committing corruption in the tendering process of Sehat Insaf Card programme and purchase of land for doctors’ colony. He also alleged that medical equipment handed over to hospital by an NGO had gone missing, and the purchase of substandard medicines for the hospital.

Dr Alam demanded immediate replacement of the hospital’s MS.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Mohammad Arif Khan along with district police officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi, MPA Shafiullah Khan and district development advisory committee chairman Ubaidur Rehman met the YDA leadership.

YDA district president Dr Najibullah and others briefed them about the prevailing situation in the hospital.

The DC said a report on the allegations of the YDA had been sent to the provincial government. He said doctors’ boycott had severely affected the healthcare delivery in the hospital.

Mr Arif said a verification process of the hospital staff had been initiated and the absent staff would be dealt with an iron hand.

The visiting officials also met MS Dr Ali Asghar and asked him to ensure provision of medical care to patients.

Later, YDA held a meeting and decided to postpone their protest for two weeks.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024