By Our Staff Reporter
QUETTA: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Thursday demanded of the Balochistan government to suspend routine health operations/ services in government run hospitals to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the province. This demand on the part of doctors have come after the Balochistan government confirmed 81 cases of novel corona virus in the province.
“Very strange on one hand, the government has banned gatherings of 10 people, on the other hand around 5000 patients gather at civil hospital Quetta”, Dr. Yasir Achakzai, the President YDA told a news conference at Quetta Press Club. Other YDA office bearers also flanked him on the occasion. The YDA demanded of the concerned quarters to only run emergency services to cope with the unfolding situation.
The YDA also demanded of the government to reinstate around 500 doctors who were recruited on contract basis in January 2019 to make sure provision of health facilities to patients across the province. The doctors were recruited by Balochistan government on the orders of the then chief justice supreme court, justice (R) Saqib Nisar in the province. When asked about reinstatement of contract doctors, Liaquat Shahwani, the Spokesman government of Balochistan said the government needs more doctors to tackle the situation and that the contract of doctors would be extended.
“First of all, doctors should be provided corona masks and all basic facilities”, Dr. Achakzai demanded, saying that doctors community was exposed to the deadly virus.
In Balochistan, the number of doctors serving in all 45 government run hospitals is 4325 with 1600 nurses. Lack of doctors in far-flung areas of Balochistan continue to compound problems of patients in the province.
