Young doctors end strike in Quetta after successful talks with govt

QUETTA (92 News) – Young doctors and paramedical staff in Quetta ended their strike after successful talks with the Balochistan government. The announcement to end strike and protest came during a joint press conference by provincial minister Zmarak Khan Achakzai and Young Doctors Association (YDA) president Dr Yasir Achakzai. Addressing a press conference, the minister said that all doctors are our frontline heroes and a forward force in fight against coronavirus and assured provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits to all medical practitioners working against COVID-19 at hospitals. It is pertinent to mention here that the young doctors and other paramedical staff protest against lack of safety kits in hospitals of Balochistan and after arrest and torture of doctors by the provincial police during protest. Earlier, doctors and paramedical staff blocked roads and boycotted all duties to lodge protest against lack of safety equipment in hospitals of the province. Meanwhile, the police baton-charged and arrested several protesters to disperse the crowd. On Tuesday, the doctors continued their boycott of the government hospitals for the second day in protest against the arrest of young doctors and paramedics. The talks between the doctors and the government failed. The Young Doctors Association spokesperson said that they would remain in police stations till provision of protective equipment. He called for the resolution of the problems of doctors. He said that protective kits should be provided to doctors immediately. The protesting doctors who spent the night in police stations despite their release said that they would stay there till fulfillment of their demands. They demanded that the government should have probed why the police tortured them. On the other hand, Balochistan CM Jam Kamal said that young doctors are playing in the hands of mafia. “The locking of the offices of medical superintendent is an inappropriate act,” he said. He said that the cabinet had approved 1,400 vacancies for doctors during a meeting on Monday. “Had the government not been serious if would have not approved recruitment against vacant posts,” he added. Meanwhile, Sindh doctors also continued their silent protest. PMA secretary general Dr Pir Manzoor said that doctors who are on the frontline in the war against coronavirus themselves are not safe. He condemned the arrest of doctors in Quetta.