On Monday, Quetta doctors came on the streets demanding protective gear from the government and the implementation of proper procedures in hospitals to protect the medical staff from the COVID-19 pandemic. In answer to their demands, the Balochistan government unleashed the police force on the protesters, and the event resulted in injuries and over 59 arrests. This extremely condemnable and shameful incident was justified by the government, which stated that the doctors protesting had refused to treat the Corona patients. Several reports have highlighted that hospitals are at very high risk due to the lack of proper quarantine procedures.
Patients visiting the hospitals are first seated in the waiting room, huddled together, before they’re able to see a doctor. In this environment the doctor and the patient both need proper protective gear to avoid becoming infected. Doctors’ demands were completely justified.
The parliament was recently informed that we had only 3800 ventilators in Pakistan. It has been repeatedly highlighted that there are no disinfectants available for the doctors, hospitals and medical staff as well as the personnel at the quarantine centers. With no pharmaceutical industry in the country, we’re in a bind and nearly two months into the outbreak, Pakistan is neither conducting mass tests nor formulating proper procedures to cure the patients. The Prime Minister saw it fit to offer tax breaks rather than setting up proper quarantine centers with well thought out SOPs that would govern such quarantine centers.
Media throughout the world reported about the arrests of doctors in Pakistan leading many to severely criticize the country and demand the international community to pressure Pakistan into immediately releasing them and accepting their demands. Pakistan is a country that is constantly struggling with its image and such negative footage of an unnecessary crackdown by the Balochistan government on the doctors has certainly not helped.
The federal government should immediately take notice of the incident and release the arrested doctors and provide all healthcare officials with protective gear at the earliest so that the doctors can focus entirely on tackling the pandemic rather than worrying about their lives and health. It is the responsibility of the government. At this point, the Prime Minister should focus less on his absurd speeches and more on the protection of the people and the medical practitioners of his country.
Patients visiting the hospitals are first seated in the waiting room, huddled together, before they’re able to see a doctor. In this environment the doctor and the patient both need proper protective gear to avoid becoming infected. Doctors’ demands were completely justified.
The parliament was recently informed that we had only 3800 ventilators in Pakistan. It has been repeatedly highlighted that there are no disinfectants available for the doctors, hospitals and medical staff as well as the personnel at the quarantine centers. With no pharmaceutical industry in the country, we’re in a bind and nearly two months into the outbreak, Pakistan is neither conducting mass tests nor formulating proper procedures to cure the patients. The Prime Minister saw it fit to offer tax breaks rather than setting up proper quarantine centers with well thought out SOPs that would govern such quarantine centers.
Media throughout the world reported about the arrests of doctors in Pakistan leading many to severely criticize the country and demand the international community to pressure Pakistan into immediately releasing them and accepting their demands. Pakistan is a country that is constantly struggling with its image and such negative footage of an unnecessary crackdown by the Balochistan government on the doctors has certainly not helped.
The federal government should immediately take notice of the incident and release the arrested doctors and provide all healthcare officials with protective gear at the earliest so that the doctors can focus entirely on tackling the pandemic rather than worrying about their lives and health. It is the responsibility of the government. At this point, the Prime Minister should focus less on his absurd speeches and more on the protection of the people and the medical practitioners of his country.