ABBOTTABAD, Oct 20: Professors and doctors of Ayub Medical College and Ayub Medical Complex Hospital observed a complete strike on the third consecutive day on Wednesday to protest against the health department's inaction to solve their problems.

Speaking on the occasion, doctors threatened to expand their strike and block the Karakoram Highway if the department did not take steps to meet their demands.

The speakers included Prof Nisar, president People's Doctors Forum, Dr Umer Khitab, president Hazara Doctors Association, Dr Sajjad, president PDA Abbottabad and Dr Ziaur Rehman, AMCH former chief executive.

They said that affairs of the complex were being run by one man (the chief executive) and leveled serious charges of misappropriation against him.

They criticised appointment of at least 500 staff members on daily wages and alleged that majority of them did not perform duties.

They claimed that hospital pharmacy was closed, resulting in a loss of Rs400,000 a month from the last nine months.

They further charged that due to ongoing tussle between the chief executive and institutional medical committee the hospital was on the verge of collapse.

It has been learnt that the two committees appointed for resolution of the problems had finalised their report with recommendation for change in the hospital's management, but no action had been taken so far.

The doctors alleged that field hospitals were established at Oghi, Behsam and Swabi and millions of rupees were wasted on the TA/DA, purchase of equipment and appointment of staff just to please a cabinet member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The speakers also demanded release of salaries of at least 23 doctors and professors, which had been stopped by the management.

It has been learnt that the chief executive of Ayub Medical Complex Hospital has written a letter to provincial heath department for the transfer of 37 doctors and professors to 'streamline' affairs of the complex.