DOCTORS in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are reluctant to perform duties in their hometowns, creating serious health problems in less developed areas like Kohistan, Chitral, Battagram, Tank and the newly-merged tribal districts, which have traditionally had a poor health system.

Most doctors want to stay in Peshawar and other developed districts like Mardan, Nowshehra and Abbotabad.

The number of doctors is already less than required, and their refusal to perform duty in rural areas has exacerbated the situation.

Amid these pathetic circumstances, the KP government has framed a new strategy to make the doctors serve in far-flung areas.

The proposed reforms will create heath authorities at district and regional level to provide health facilities for the area residents.

On the other hand, doctors have been propagating against the proposed reforms, terming them anti-poor.

The furious doctors recently attacked the health minister when he was coming to attend a meeting with Prof Nowsherwan Burki in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Now doctors associations are on strike in the province, putting the lives of the patients at stake.

The doctors should refrain from strikes and frivolous opposition. Let the new reforms be implemented, which will benefit the people of this terror-hit region.

Intizar Khan
Bannu

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THE incident involving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan triggered a protest by doctors, causing suspension of all services at public health facilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Suspension of services at government hospital OPDs by doctors is not something new in KP.

Workers unions in every public sector department have always resisted policy changes made by the government even if these changes were in public interest.

The Young Doctors’ Association has halted services in OPDs to oppose government health policy, showing utter indifference to public suffering.

They should put their demands to policymakers through proper channels.

Throwing eggs on a senior professor is against Pakhtun traditions, and beating up a doctor is unlawful.

Stopping services in OPDs on a strike call from doctors’ union across the entire province is unethical.

The government needs to take strict action against such doctors.

Jahangir Khan
Chakai, Kohistan Lower

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2019