Editorial :
Poor and needy patients have been suffering for the last more than six months in government-run hospitals in Balochistan because of the continued boycott of OPDs by young doctors. Young Doctors Association (YDA) had announced a boycott of OPDs six months back in support of its demands.
Since then, repeated rounds of negotiations have been held between YDA and government officials. However, no breakthrough has been made to bring an end to the ongoing boycott of OPDs. This agitation has severely affected health services in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.
The number of patients in Quetta’s Bolan Medical Complex Hospital (BMCH) and civil hospital daily is more than 10,000. If daily, many patients are denied medical treatment in only two government-run hospitals in the provincial capital. What would the state of health facilities be in the remaining 33 districts of Balochistan?
Poor and needy patients cannot afford the high fees of doctors in private clinics
Poor and needy patients cannot afford the high fees of doctors in private clinics and hospitals. Subsequently, they go to government-run hospitals for medical treatment. Although, they return in despair from government hospitals as a result of the boycott of the young doctors.
It is a bitter reality that protesting doctors always choose to punish patients to attract the government’s attention to solutions to their issues. Nevertheless, the government has proved to be least bothered about the miseries of poor and deserving patients.
No sane person can support the way police removed doctors’ protest camp
No sane person can support the way police removed doctors’ protest camps in civil hospitals and whisked away protesting doctors in prisoners’ vans. The government had to get the doctors engaged to find an amicable solution to issues relating to the health department.
Wisdom must prevail. The blame game by either side should be stopped. Medical is a noble profession and doctors’ core responsibility is to serve the ailing humanity. Yes, the government of the day is responsible for the provision of uninterrupted medical facilities to the masses and addressing the grievances of the health professionals.
