PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has ordered an inquiry into the alleged violence by two MPAs against doctors in the Hayatabad Medical Complex on Friday night.

The hospital’s doctors stopped offering elective services to the visitors and warned that they would observe a complete strike, including withdrawal of Covid-19 services, from Wednesday if a strict action wasn’t taken against both lawmakers in accordance with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Healthcare Service Providers and Facilities (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2021, passed by the government to protect health workers and patient rights.

In a statement, the chief minister said health workers had done very well during the fight against pandemic and were the nation’s heroes and it was illegal to interfere with their work.

He said he had asked the police and HMC administration to submit separate reports on violence within 10 hours for action against lawbreakers.

Mr Mahmood said the protection of health workers, who were involved in the management of coronavirus patients, were the government’s top priority so that they could work with more zeal for the effective handling of the emergency situation caused by the outbreak of the virus.

Doctors suspend elective service demanding action against two MPAs

“Nobody will be spared for committing violence against doctors, paramedics and nurses as we hold them [health workers] in high esteem, especially for their excellent work during the ongoing pandemic,” he said.

The chief minister ordered the administration to compile a detailed report for action against the perpetrators of violence.

In a statement, the Provincial Doctors’ Association and Young Doctors’ Association alleged that MPAs Nighat Orakzai and Shafiq Afridi ransacked the hospital’s offices after the arrival of a boy, who had died of head injuries before reaching the hospital.

They claimed that the two lawmakers also tortured doctors in the hospital.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus in Feb last year, the doctors, paramedics and nurses haven’t observed any strike.

The PDA and YDA warned that their members would halt patient care in hospitals if the perpetrators of violence against the doctors weren’t dealt with strictly.

They said elective services had already been suspended at the HMC.

YDA president Dr Asfandyar Bittani alleged in a statement that MPAs Nighat Orakzai and Shafiq Afridi led a mob attack against the HMC administration, used abusive language against it, and snatched guns from guards.

He said the mob attacked the offices of the medical director and hospital director on the provocation of both lawmakers.

“We strongly condemn the violence and give an ultimatum of 12 hours to the government to lodge an FIR against MPAs. Until this demand is met, the suspension of elective services will continue,” he said.

The YDA president said no services would be available in hospitals across the province from Monday.

Health minister Taimur Salim Jhagra and chief minister’s aide Kamran Khan Bangash also flayed the lawmakers over the act of violence and promised the dispensation of justice to doctors after the completion of inquiry.

They said it was extremely distressing for the government that doctors and other health workers were attacked at a time when they were deeply involved with Covid-19 patients.

Mr Bangash said over 200 Covid-19 patients were admitted to the HMC.

He appreciated the hospital’s staff members over their professionalism for the effective management of coronavirus cases.

The health minister asked the political leaders to take action against both MPAs.

Meanwhile, the province recorded40 deathsfrom coronavirus and 864 new cases on Saturday.

According to the health department, 10 people died of the virus in Mardan, nine in Peshawar, five in Bannu, four in Swat, two each in Charsadda, Nowshera and Swabi and one each in Buner, Bajaur, Upper Dir, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Haripur.

The province’s total deaths from the virus reached 3,350 and cases 119,277. A total of 103,921 people recovered from the virus and they included 983 new ones.

Peshawar recorded 134 new cases.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2021