KARACHI: A protest by doctors, affiliated with the Young Doctors Association (YDA), shut down the outpatient department (OPD) and the emergency ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) on Wednesday.
Harassment of a doctor working at one of Karachi’s largest government hospital sparked the protest. Dr Usman Zafar was part of a scuffle between doctors and patients on Friday in the emergency room. The hospital administration resolved the matter but released a “partial, one-sided video” of the event.
The FIR for the incident was registered on Tuesday. “The incident happened several days ago, why has the case been registered now?” questioned Zafar. A case was registered against the doctor a day earlier, causing a partial shutdown of the emergency ward.
The YDA are protesting against the wrongful accusation of Zafar for assaulting patients, and the way in which doctors are being treated generally.
Last month, patients coming from remote areas of Balochistan to the Civil Hospital for treatment faced immense difficulties as the hospital staff was on strike.
