Medics stick to strike.

Byline: Iqtidar Gilani

LAHORE -- Grand Health Alliance (GHA)'s strike at public sectors hospitals entered 28th day on Wednesday, continuing the miseries of the ailing humanity.

The committee constituted by the government last day held its maiden meeting with the protesters to find a way for resuming healthcare services. The meeting, however, remained inconclusive.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals continued protest against, what they called, privatization of hospitals under Punjab Medical Teaching Institutions (Reforms) Act 2019.

Almost a month long boycott of duties in indoor wards, OPDs, operation theatres and central laboratories is multiplying the miseries of hapless patients. Thousands of patients are being deprived of treatment of minor operations, consultation, diagnosis and treatment of their ailments and injuries on a daily basis, while the worst hit were those who had been traveling from far-off districts to reach the mega teaching institutions only to be disappointed due to lack of healthcare services.

Deadlock persists on 28th day of demo

However, an extraordinary rush of patients has been witnessed in emergency wards of all hospitals, where consultation services are also being offered to OPD patients. Several patients have to go to the private hospitals for elective procedures, which puts extra financial burden on their pockets.

The five-member committee, headed by Additional Chief...