Balochistan: Army doctors called for help

QUETTA: Doctors in Balochistan are still observing strike on the appeal of PMA Balochistan after their fellow eye specialist Dr Saeed Khan was abducted over a month ago while the provincial government has asked the Army to provide doctors in the hospitals, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Patients from the far-flung areas are facing severe difficulties due to the closure of emergency services and doctors’ strike at private hospitals as well.

On Monday, PMA Balochistan extended their protest and announced not to serve at private hospitals of the province following the closure of emergency services in all government hospitals on the appeal of PMA Balochistan.

The doctors also held a rally here after which police used tear gas and fired shells to disperse the demonstrators. The aggravated doctors and police personnel also grappled with each other after which almost 40 doctors voluntarily appeared in Civil Line police station where they were arrested.

Despite Balochistan government’s 24-hour deadline to end the strike, the medics boycotted the OPDs on Sunday, and warned that emergency wards would also be closed on 9 and 10 Muharram if authorities failed to recover Dr Saeed Khan.

The provincial government issued show-cause notices to more than 60 doctors and arrested 71 doctors over violating the red zone warning and registered cases against them. Therefore, the government wrote to Pakistan Army to seek help from the doctors in Civil Hospital and Bolan Hospital, but no decision has been finalized yet.

The meeting of general body of PMA Balochistan has also been called where important decisions will be made.

Dr Saeed was kidnapped on Oct 16 from his clinic at Saryab Road, Quetta following which protests were initiated the same day. According to Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Balochistan President Sultan Tareen, kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom to release Dr Saeed and the provincial government seems helpless in capturing the abductors.