YDA announces suspension of services in Balochistan hospitals

QUETTA: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has announced the suspension of services in hospitals across Balochistan and said that the medical staff would not resume their services until their demands are met.

Condemning the arrests and alleged torture by Balochistan police, the president of the YDA’s Balochistan chapter Dr. Yasir Achakzai claimed that almost 15 doctors in the province have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Dr. Yasir Achakzai further claimed that the provincial government has not supplied protective equipment to the medical staff.

Elaborating the demands, he said that doctors should be provided PPE, medical kits and other facilities so that they can treat the coronavirus patients.

He said, “On one hand, the deadly coronavirus is killing the young doctors and on the other side, police are beating us.”

Earlier on Monday, Police arrested dozens of doctors who were protesting against the unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in provincial hospitals.

Police claimed that almost 30 doctors had been arrested for violating Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure imposed by the Balochistan government in Quetta in connection with the lockdown.

However, according to YDA president, more than 100 doctors and health workers were arrested.