Doctors at the three teaching hospitals here in the provincial metropolis went on strike against the police and attack on one of their colleagues at the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) on Sunday evening.
The angry doctors provided only emergency cover to the critically ill patients at the city's hospitals and warned that in case of failure of the government in providing security they would extend their strike to other hospitals of the province.
The Doctors Action Committee gave the call for strike after the occurrence of the Sunday's incident. The relatives of a four-year-old child, who died at the children ward of the Khyber Teaching Hospital on Sunday evening, allegedly beat up a junior house officer Dr Tahir.
Patients arrived from far-flung areas of the province had to return without being examined by the doctors. Due to strike the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) were presenting a deserted look as doctors kept away from the OPDs, wards and operation theatres.
The Doctors Action Committee chief Dr Aziz said that a child Aziz Jamil of Pishtakhara village was brought to the child B ward in precarious condition on Sunday noon. He was given treatment and the relatives were informed about the seriousness of his ailment. The patient, he said died in the evening despite efforts by the doctors to save his life.
He said after the death of the child scores of his relatives came to the hospital and attacked Dr Tahir, which resulted in injuries to him. They also tried to abduct the doctor, but he ran away from the spot and in the process, fell on the ground and became unconscious.
Dr Aziz charged police, who were on duty, for becoming silent spectator during the incident, as the father of the deceased happened to be a constable at the Pishtakhara police station. During the strike, emergency cover would be provided to the critically ill patients.
The doctors' strike and its affect on ailing humanity was also raised on a point of order during the proceedings of NWFP Assembly by a senior parliamentarian Pir Mohammad Khan. He urged on the government to intervene into the matter to ensure medical facilities to the people coming from far-flung areas of the province to the city hospitals.
Anwar Kamal Khan Marwat said the house was assured on Monday that they would talk to doctors' community calling off their protest strike. But, nothing was done and on Tuesday they have given the 72-hours ultimatum for the arrest of the accused involved in the attack on a junior doctor.
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