Protesting doctors of the provincial metropolis Wednesday called off their strike in private clinics wherein alternative arrangements would be made for provision of medical services to poor patients. On the call of the Provincial Doctors' Association (PDA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the doctors community had went on strike and had declined the provision of medical facilities to patients in both public health facilities and private clinics to protest the kidnapping of the renowned physician Intikhab Alam.
Due to the strike of doctors, the Outdoor Patients Department (OPD) in all major hospitals of the provincial metropolis remained closed for five days and three days in private clinics. The doctors are demanding immediate recovery of the kidnapped doctor.
"The decision of calling off strike in private clinics was made unanimously by the executive body," announced president PDA, Dr Shah Sawar Khan while addressing a news conference here at press club. He said that strike in public sector hospitals will remain continue. However, he declined to specific time period of the strike.
The decision, he said, has been taken in the interest of the ailing humanity as due to ongoing strike against the Kidnapping of Dr Intikhab Alam, the patients were facing enormous difficulties. All major public and private teaching hospitals and clinics had closed down in the city. He lamented that no response had come from the government functionaries' and concerned officials despite observing strike against the abduction Dr Intikhab.
The association, he said, had realised the gravity of the situation and had decided to call off strike in private clinics, he observed. However, he said the there will be no admission for Bolton blocks and private rooms in all three teaching hospitals of the metropolis while private clinics will also closed on every Friday.
However, no such services will be provided in the public sector hospitals and other institutions included Khyber Medical College (KMC), and Khyber-Teaching Hospital (KTH)," he explained. Dr Farooq, Secretary General, Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI), Teaching Staff Association (TSA) have expressed grave concern over negative response through government and relevant officials, as eight days had been passed, but government is still clueless about the recovery of Dr Intikhab Alam.
More than, seven doctors have been kidnapped in wake of poor law and order situation in province, he grumbled. He said it was pre-plan against the doctor community and demanded of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to take suo motu notice against it.
He warned that in case of the failure of the government in recovery of Dr Intikhab Alam, the protest campaign will extended to all periphery units, including districts Charssada, Kohat, Mardan, Swabi, and rest of districts in the province.