QUETTA: Thousands of patients across Balochistan continued to face disruption to medical services on Tuesday as doctors maintained a boycott of outpatient departments (OPDs) at government hospitals.
The protest entered its 25th day after an acid attack on Dr. Mahnoor Nasir inside Civil Hospital Quetta.
Doctors have demanded a transparent judicial inquiry into the attack and the arrest of those responsible.
The protest is being led jointly by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Quetta Zone and the Young Doctors Association (YDA).
On Tuesday, protesting doctors attempted to march toward the Red Zone to demonstrate outside the chief minister’s residence. Police stopped the march before it reached the restricted area.
Emergency departments, inpatient wards, operation theatres and dialysis units remain operational. However, OPD services continue to be suspended, leaving thousands of patients without routine consultations and follow-up treatment.
Women, children and elderly patients have been among the worst affected by the prolonged suspension of services.
In a statement, the PMA expressed concern over what it called the government’s failure to make meaningful progress in investigating the acid attack.
The association said authorities had yet to identify those responsible despite weeks having passed since the incident.
The PMA repeated its demand for an independent judicial inquiry. It also called for the removal of the provincial health secretary and the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Quetta until the investigation is completed, arguing that their continued presence could influence the inquiry.
The association also criticized disciplinary proceedings launched against more than 30 senior doctors and health officials, describing the measures as unjust and damaging to the medical profession.
The PMA has convened a general body meeting at Civil Hospital Quetta to decide its next course of action. Options under consideration include expanding the protest and organizing a long march to Islamabad.
The association appealed to the Balochistan chief minister, chief secretary, provincial health minister and the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court to intervene and help resolve the crisis.
