A manifestation generalized by health professionals entered Rawalpindi on Monday in his second consecutive day, while doctors of three major government hospitals continued their strike against the privatization of public hospitals, Express News reported.
The Young Doctors Association (YDA) directed the boycott, leading to the suspension of the external consultation department (OPD) services at Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, the Holy Family Hospital and the Rawalpindi University Hospital.
According to Dr. Arif Aziz, president of the YDA at the general hospital of Benazir Bhutto, the association firmly opposes the government’s decision to privatize public health establishments.
“We categorically reject the privatization of government hospitals. The government must immediately withdraw this decision,” he said.
While emergency and hospital services remain functional, YDA representatives have warned that the strike could be extended to other departments if their requests are not responded.
Meanwhile, efforts to eradicate polio and dengue in Rawalpindi were temporarily interrupted while health workers also launched demonstrations against plans to outsource public health services.
Workers of peripheral areas such as Gujar Khan, Chakri and the Union Phagwari Council boycotted the provincial provincial campaign, expressing strong opposition to the privatization of the health department. They have raised concerns about job insecurity, delayed wages and lack of financial protection.
The demonstration caused the temporary suspension of polio and dengue prevention campaigns in the region, raising public health problems in the midst of continuous efforts to control seasonal diseases.
