Boycott of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff from OPDs of government run hospitals across the province continued on Friday against the detention of leaders of Balochistan Health Grand Alliance, creating problems for the people.

According to detail, on the call of Balochistan Health Grand Alliance-GHAB, doctors, nurses and paramedics boycotted providing services to patients in all government run hospitals of the province, including Sheikh Zaid Hospital Quetta, Bolan Medical College, Quetta, Sandeman Provincial Hospital Quetta and Fatima Jinnah General and Chest Hospital Quetta.

Boycott of GHAB from OPDs of the hospital created problems for citizens. It is pertinent to mention that GHAB has been on strike, demanding, inter alia, the withdrawal of privatisation of hospitals policy, implementation of contract-based appointment in health department and the release of office bearers and cadres of GHAB, including Chairman, GHAB, Dr. Bihar Shah, Dr. Yasir Achakzai, Dr. Hafeez Mandokhail and Rehmat Agha.

Separately, Health Department, Government of Balochistan floated an advertisement in the leading newspapers, directing absent doctors, nurses and paramedical staff to join their places of posting forthwith, failing which strict disciplinary action, including dismissal from service, would be initiated against the absent doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. National Democratic Movement-NDM condemned the arrest of President, GHAB, Dr. Bihar Shah, Dr. Hafeez Mandokhail and others.

A statement issued by the provincial Secretariat of NDM demanded of the authorities to accede to the genuine demands of GHAB. It said that the issue be resolved through negotiations.