Patients suffer as doctors’ strike in Punjab continues

The strike of the Grand Health Alliance consisting doctors, nurses and para-medical staff is underway in the major government hospitals of Punjab.

According to the details, all elective services, including outdoor, operation theaters, radiology and pathology are suspended in all major government hospitals across the province, while patients are facing severe difficulties due to lack of treatment facilities.

The miseries of the poor patients are multiplying due to lack of healthcare services in outdoor wards and OTs in hospitals of Punjab.

According to YDA’s senior leadership, more than 50,000 elective surgeries and over 100,000 diagnostic tests were postponed due to closure of Operation Theatres (OTs) and central laboratories respectively in all mega teaching hospitals in the province.

However, the health authorities and administrations of respective hospitals are making hollow claims of providing health services at OPDs with the help of consultants and administrative doctors.

In fact, the absence of OPD services prevented thousands of new admissions in indoor wards in hospitals during the strike for the last 7 days.

Moreover, protests will be held at Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Jail Road in Faisalabad, Hospital Road in Gujrat, Jail Road in Multan, Jampur Road in DG Khan and Rahim Yar Hospital Road from 11am to 3pm.

It is to be noted that the emergency wards of government hospitals are catering to unprecedented number of patients, yet several patients have to bear extra financial burden to seek treatment at private hospitals.