The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has announced to continue its strike against poor security conditions at Quetta hospitals after a colleague was attacked with acid last week.
The association announced that it will refuse any negotiations with the government until its demands are met, which, YDA leader Dr Palwasha Raheem Kakar stated at a press conference, included the allocation of resources to enhance doctor safety and strengthen security measures at hospitals.
Regarding the acid attack on Dr Mahnoor Nasir, Dr Kakar said the incident has created a sense of fear among female doctors and the wider medical community.
She stated that doctors currently face significant challenges due to inadequate security protocols at Civil Hospital Quetta and instead of addressing the gaps in hospital security, the government had decided to dismiss medical staff.
She also termed these dismissals a retaliatory measure by the administration.
The strike will affect services, but Dr Kakar stated that the protesting doctors will provide free medical treatment at private clinics so that patients do not face difficulties during this period.
It may be noted that political support for the strike came from National Party leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch. He expressed solidarity with the protesting medical workers and called for a transparent judicial inquiry into the acid attack on Dr Nasir.
