QUETTA: Doctors in Balochistan continued their strike on Tuesday in protest against the kidnapping and killing of doctors in the province, DawnNews reported.

The strike was extended to complete shutdown of healthcare services in both private and state hospitals.

The paramedical staff and doctors of private hospitals and clinics also joined the protest after the police manhandled and arrested the protesting doctors.

The strike included a complete boycott of duties, including in the out-patient departments and emergency wards.

The Balochistan government decided to seek the services of 40 army doctors in the Civil and Bolan Medical College (BMC) hospitals, following the Pakistan Medical Association’s decision to extend strike to private healthcare institutions.

Speaking to the media representatives from an undisclosed location, President PMA Balochistan Dr Sultan Tareen said that 80 doctors were arrested by the police, adding that the arrested doctors were staging a hunger strike in the police stations.

Dr Tareen further said that the emergency services in hospitals would remain suspended until the association’s demands were not met.

In an expression of solidarity with their colleagues in Balochistan, the president of Young Doctors Association (YDA) also threatened to stage protests if the arrested doctors were not freed in the next 24 hours.

The poor patients have been the worse affected in this clash between the government and the doctors.