F.P. Report
TIMERGARA: Hundreds of patients from different parts of Lower and Upper Dir on Friday faced immense troubles as doctors continued their boycott of duties in Out-Patient Departments for fourth consecutive day. The doctors of public sector hospitals in Lower Dir continued their protest on the call of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa doctors’ council that has been demanding reversal of health authorities.
None of the doctors attended OPD, operation theatre and wards at hospitals while patients from Upper Dir, Bajaur and Chitral were compelled to visit doctors’ homes for medical care. The striking doctors were opposing the formation of district and regional health authorities (DHA &RHA) alleging the government wanted to privatize public sector hospitals. Emergency cover however, was given at all small and big hospitals in the district.
Talking to local journalists, leaders of Young Doctors Association DrRafiullah, DrWahidullah, DrNadar Khan and others said the doctors would never bow before the government to privatize hospitals. They demanded of the government to review the decision of formation of DHA and RHA for public sector hospitals in the province. They also demanded provision of X-Ray films, emergency medicines and free medical care to poor patients at hospitals instead of wasting time on experiments in the hospitals. They said their strike would continue until the government accepted their demands.
