Doctors call off strike in Chakwal
CHAKWAL, Oct 6: The three days strike of government and private doctors of the district Chakwal ended on Friday with the former resuming their duties in all the basic health units and other government facilities.
The strike was called off after a meeting between District Nazim Sardar Ghulam Abbas and Pakistan Medical Association, Chakwal, representatives.
During the meeting, the district nazim said strike was not the solution to the problem and that doctors should defend their case in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, Dr Shehryar Iqbal, a local practitioner who did not take part in the strike along with his doctor wife, said he and his wife revolted against the PMA’s decision to observe the strike, and continued treating patients at his clinic. And for doing so, he was constantly receiving threats from the PMA, he alleged.
He said if any harm was caused to him or his family, Medical Superintendent of DHQ Chakwal Dr Tauqir Minhas, Deputy Superintendent Chaudhary Saadat Ali and child specialist Dr Aamir would be responsible for it.
Dr Shehryar, who used to work at the DHQ hospital, claimed that he was ousted from the health facility for raising the issue of minor children’s death.
Ghulam Shabbir and Azhar Abbas, whose two children — a minor boy and a girl — were killed due to alleged negligence of doctors at the DHQ hospital, were also present on the occasion. Ghulam Shabbir said his six-year-old girl Mubin Bushra died due to shortage of Oxygen in the children ward. Claiming that extra Oxygen cylinders were available in the store, he alleged that the deputy superintendent did not approve provision of the cylinder despite a written request by Dr Shehryar who was on duty at the time.