Qaseem Shah:Â
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has initiated action against 36 medical officers, 29 lady medical officers, and 9 dental surgeons for allegedly receiving dual salaries, issuing notices to those involved.
Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar stated that evidence of corruption had been uncovered, and FIRs would be filed against those involved in.
In a statement, the YDA condemned the arrests of its leaders and criticized the Health Department’s actions against doctors accused of receiving dual salaries. The association demanded the immediate release of its members and called for a constructive dialogue to resolve their long-standing issues, including salary disparities and better working conditions.
He revealed that the Health Department has shared a list of implicated doctors and is seeking details of contract-based doctors from international organizations.
Officials on deputation to UN bodies are also being reviewed, with instructions for those whose tenure has ended to report back to their parent department.
Meanwhile, the strike by the Young Doctors Association over the arrest of its leaders entered its third day, paralyzing OPDs across government hospitals in Balochistan. Patients remained the hardest hit, struggling to access essential medical services.
A patient lamented, “We are suffering due to the doctors’ protests and government inaction. Who will care for us in this chaos?” Another said, “The government must resolve this issue quickly; lives are at stake.”
The ongoing strike has deepened the healthcare crisis in the province, further highlighting the need for prompt resolution.