Karachi
Doctors at the Civil Hospital Karachi’s emergency department boycotted work for two hours on Monday to protest against the manhandling of a casualty medical officer by the attendants of a patient.
They refused to treat several patients in urgent need of medical assistance during that time.
CHK officials said on Sunday night, a man who was injured in firing was admitted to the emergency ward. After the patient passed away, his attendants roughed up the casualty medical officer at the ward.
They identified the patient as Abu Bakar, 45, who was brought to the hospital from Pak Colony.
The officials added that the patient was a member of a Lyari-based gang and had been shot probably by his rivals or in an encounter with police. They said doctors were unable to save him despite all their efforts.
Following his death, the people accompanying him not only beat up casualty medical officer Dr Faizan, but also harassed paramedics and nurses and vandalised the ward.
The protesting doctors said they were working in an insecure environment and the staff was often subjected to violence by the enraged relatives in case their loved ones expired during treatment.
Dr Barkatullah Memon, a senior casualty medical officer, said such incidents had become common but the staff was not being provided with security. “We have even seen doctors’ heads being smashed and their throats slit but nobody is there to provide any protection to them. Today we have boycotted work for two hours but if such incidents continue, we will be compelled to go on a strike for an indefinite period,” he added.
The protesting doctors demanded that Rangers should be deployed at the emergency ward on a permanent basis as a few policemen there never intervene when doctors were harassed.