Doctors’ strike in Sindh jeopardises patients

NAWABSHAH: The young doctors of Sindh including those of the Peoples Medical Hospital in Nawabshah continued to stage strike on the fourth consecutive day boycotting patient care by locking the OPD, X-ray and operation theaters due to which hundreds of patients coming from far flung areas could not get treatment. Many emergency procedures in the hospitals had to be put off because of the strike.

The protesting doctors doctors were demanding enhancement in salaries and allowances. In Nawabshah, the patients complained that the Peoples Medical Hospital, despite being the biggest hospital of the district remained close to medical service. Despite 1000 beds hospital, the patients were in miserable condition. Neither the doctors not the labs and even pharmacies operated in the hospital. The Medical Superintendent, Peoples Medical Hospital, Dr Abdul Ghani Brohi however claimed increasing the duties of the ward doctors. The Young Doctors Action committee pledged to continue strike till the acceptance of their demands.

Meanwhile, the business of private hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and laboratories flourished as the patients in agony were left with no recourse but to go them seeking expensive treatment.