PMA flays police action against medics

LAHORE : The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Saturday strongly condemned the Punjab police's use of water cannons to disperse peaceful protesting healthcare workers.

These young doctors and allied health professionals were exercising their fundamental right to protest in favour of their legitimate demands concerning the public healthcare system and their professional rights. PMA (Centre) Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, in a press release, said that the reports of police resorting to such measures against individuals who are dedicated to providing essential medical services are deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

He said that peaceful protests should be met with dialogue and understanding, not with force and intimidation. The use of water cannons, particularly in the reported manner, is an excessive and unwarranted response to a demonstration by healthcare professionals advocating for the betterment of the healthcare system. The PMA unequivocally supports the genuine demands of these protesting healthcare workers. Their concerns regarding outsourcing of the public health care facilities issues deserve serious consideration and immediate attention from the Punjab government.