KARACHI:Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan (OSP) Karachi strongly condemned the violent attack on doctors by relatives of a patient recently. The incident took place at the Ophthalmology Department of a renowned healthcare facility.
This was stated by President PMA Karachi Dr Shareef Hashmani and President Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan (OSP) Dr Qazi Wasiq in joint press conference held at PMA House. General Secretary PMA Karachi Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro and General Secretary OSP Prof Dr Mazhar ul Hasan were also present on this occasion.
They informed that assailant used foul, abusive language and assaulted the senior lady doctor and consultant ophthalmologist over the argument regarding the surgery of his wife. This is very unfortunate that people are attacking and harassing doctors at a time when they are working in a Covid-19 pandemic at the risk of their lives. They are serving the nation with dedication and hard work at this hard time. The frontline workers are being respected around the globe while they are being maltreated in our country.
“This is very sad and disappointing that every now and then doctors are faced with lack of security and violent behavior of patient’s relatives. This results into stress and unsafe environment for the efficient professional services provided by the doctors despite the fact that the law and Sindh Healthcare Commission is in place which have failed to stop such incidences” they added.
President PMA Karachi Dr Shareef Hashmani said this is entirely the responsibility of the Government to provide security to the doctors. While Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) should monitor such situations and play its due role prescribed in its charter. We once again request the government to protect the doctors on priority basis. Security of doctors is a very serious issue we have been continuously raising our voice for the security of the doctors.
“If these brutal attacks continue to take place in future doctors and health care workers are not protected, we reserve the right to chalk out our future strategy because violence against doctors is not acceptable by the medical fraternity” he added.
President, OSP, Dr Qazi Wasiq, demanded of Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Chief of Army Staff and Chief Minister Sindh to take appropriate action and initiate immediate and impartial judicial inquiry and bring the culprits into the book as per law.