Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times): Doctors went on indefinite strike on Saturday in Divisional Teaching Headquarter Hospital in Mirpur in protest against, what they alleged, the brutal act of violence and harassment of doctors including Lady Dr. Muneeba and Lady Dr. Hafsa, Dr. Fareed and others allegedly by the attendants if a 90 year old female patient Friday.
Pakistan Medical Association Mirpur district President Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, has, meanwhile announced on Saturday to enlarge the protest strike in all state-run hospitals across AJK at divisional, district and tehsil headquarters if the demands were not met by the State government instantly.
Mirpur district President Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Dr. Ejaz Ahmed told our Special AJK Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao Saturday night that a 90 year old female patient identified as Nasreen Begam wife of Muhammad Rasheed was presented with terminal stage Friday night.
“All prognosis explained and treatment started but she expired around 4 a.m Saturday”, he said.
Dr. Ejaz Said that soon after the demise, few of the attendants of the patient started abusing coupled with threats to female doctors on duty with harsh tone.
“One of the female consultant doctor rushed to save her life in a washroom where she spent almost one hour to hide from the furious and uncontrolled group of the persons accompanying the expired patient”, he underlined while elaborating the episode.
“Since we (the doctors in Mirpur Div. HQ Hospital) had to serve such persons from a frustrated society in very tough circumstances, we are literally thinking to leave this hospital and go abroad to avert of the pathetic situation”, the PMA President declared.
Dr. Ejaz announced to continue the protest striking disbanding OPD (Outdoor Patients) services in the hospital for an indefinite period if situation was not tackled by the administration properly in line with the charter of demands moved by the protestant doctors to the Azad Jammu Kashmir government.
Lambasting the local Divisional and District administration for, what he called, their apathetic response over the incident of harassment of the doctors the PMA President said “we asked Mirpur Div. Commissioner to intervene by visiting the hospital to at least console the female lady doctors suffering the disappointing behavior.
“They can’t bother to inquire about the well being of a grade 18 female doctor on duty who was physically abused, harassed and was got admitted due to mental shock”, Dr. Ejaz commented over the alleged hostility demonstrated by the local administration.
The PMA President declared that Doctors would continue strike till the acceptance of the charter of demands moved to the AJK government most particularly including the provision of full security cover to the lives and properties of the doctors in the State-run hospitals across AJK including Mirpur Div. HQ Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile Pakistn Medical Association Mirpur district, in its emergenT meeting held here Saturday night with the PMA District President Dr. Ejaz Ahmed, strongly condemn the brutal act of violence & harassment against dr Muneeba, Dr/ Hafsa and others.
The PMA tabled a charter of demands including immediate security arrangements for the protection of the lives of the doctors and the paramedical staff.
“We announce to continue disbanding outdoor patient department (OPD) services in the hospital unless the charter of demands is met”, the PMA meeting unanimously declared.
Arrest of culprits and delivery of following security measurements including establishment of Police post in hospital, implementation of central security monitoring system, hiring properly security guards from security agencies for all major entrances, installation of CCTV cameras in all wards, devising of one Patient / one attendant policy by the hospital administration and proper parking Management imposing no parking restriction in the departments premises in the hospital.
Seeking long-term measurements to avert such incidents of harassment and manhanding of the doctors, the meeting demanded immediate legislation promulgating Security Act similar to Punjab province to make sure safety and security of the Health services employees.
