The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan on Monday once again gave the provincial government a deadline to accept its demands, warning that if they were not met, a protest sit-in would be staged outside the Red Zone on June 30 (today) at 12:00 p.m. The association further warned that if force was used against the protesters, medical services in all government hospitals across the province would be completely boycotted.
This announcement was made by President of the Young Doctors Association Balochistan, Dr. Hai Baloch, while addressing a press conference at the PGMI Hall of Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta. He said the protest camp established in solidarity with Dr. Mah Noor had completed 22 days, but the government had made no meaningful progress toward resolving the issues. He added that if the YDA’s demands were unconstitutional, the government should clearly state so.
Dr. Hai Baloch further said that a joint strategy had been adopted under the platform of the Grand Doctors Alliance. He added that the alliance’s primary demand was the transfer of the Secretary of the Balochistan Health Department and the Medical Superintendent of Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta. He alleged that a junior doctor had been appointed to a senior position at the hospital and claimed that the Health Secretary was attempting to cover up irregularities instead of taking action against those responsible.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the Balochistan Grand Doctors Alliance, Dr. Bahar Shah, alleged that the Balochistan government was using force against protesting doctors. He warned that if force was used during the protest, medical services in all government hospitals across the province would be completely boycotted.