PMA condemns torture on doctor in Peshawar

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) expressed its concern about the unfortunate incident took place at the Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar, where the provincial health minister and his guards thrashed Assistant Professor, Dr Ziauddin Afridi.

Secretary-General, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad in his statement stated that the health minister visited the hospital with Prof Nausherwan Burki where they beat Dr Afridi so brutally that he fell unconscious after suffering a head injury.

He noted that the PMA strictly condemned this brutality. It was very shameful that the health minister himself tortured a doctor within the premises of the hospital and hence promoted violence against healthcare providers. This was utterly unacceptable. The minister was supposed to be responsible for providing security to the doctors of KPK.

Dr Qaisar Sajjad said that the PMA is always against the suspension of medical facilities at hospitals, but now the poor patients are suffering in the month of Ramadan because of the closure of the hospital services by the protesting doctors. The government is responsible for the whole tragic situation. It is the responsibility of the Chief Minister to negotiate with the doctors and meet their demands to calm the situation immediately.

He informed that the doctors are united at all levels and know how to tackle such situations. They reserve the right to protest, but we believe that an amicable settlement can resolve the issue without affecting the patients by reducing their suffering.

He demanded from the Prime Minister of Pakistan who is also the head of PTI to take notice of the untoward incident and initiate a high-level inquiry into the matter. The affected doctor should be provided justice so that a settlement may be reached and the patients could continue to seek treatment.