Road blockades cripple health services in twin cities

Islamabad: Health services in the twin cities were thrown into disarray on Friday as major roads remained blocked and mobile networks suspended due to the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) ‘Ya Aqsa March’, preventing thousands of patients and healthcare workers from reaching hospitals.

Officials at the Ministry of National Health Services confirmed that patient attendance at major government hospitals fell by more than 50 percent compared to normal days.

According to officials at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), outpatient departments, emergency rooms, and inpatient wards saw a sharp decline in patient numbers, with overall attendance falling to nearly half of the usual daily average.

Cardiac, children’s, and mother-and-child care units were among the worst affected, as most patients coming from outside Islamabad failed to reach the hospitals due to road blockages and long detours.

“Obviously it becomes difficult for patients. Not only emergency patients but routine patients also suffer, as those who get appointments for their procedures couldn’t reach and miss their long-awaited appointments.

Today, the number of patients was much less than usual,” said Dr. Hyder Abbasi, a senior physician at PIMS.

Hospital officials said thousands of patients travel daily from GB, AJK, KPK, Chakwal, and Jhelum to Islamabad for specialized treatment.