The Young Doctors Association (YDA) of Pakistan has warned of a nationwide protest and hospital boycott if the Balochistan government does not halt its plan to privatize 11 public hospitals and release all arrested doctors within 48 hours.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on January 14, YDA leaders demanded the immediate release of young doctors arrested in Balochistan and the withdrawal of cases filed against them. They also called for an end to raids on doctors’ homes and the harassment of the medical community.
YDA President Dr. Atif Majeed Chaudhry and other leaders, including Dr. Omer Sultan, Dr. Rizwan Kundi, and Dr. Faiz Khan Achakzai, urged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to intervene, given the party’s governance in Balochistan and its pro-worker stance.
The controversy began when the Balochistan government decided to privatize 11 public hospitals through a public-private partnership, without consulting young doctors.
Dr. Achakzai emphasized that this move would negatively impact civil servants, including doctors. Tensions escalated when the Director General of Health in Balochistan, Amin Mandokhel, reportedly argued with YDA leaders and had FIRs filed against them. Following this, doctors, including Dr. Bahadur Shah and Dr. Hafeez Mandukhel, were arrested.
YDA members claimed they have video evidence of the DG Health using abusive language toward doctors, and they warned that further actions were being taken to silence opposition to the privatization plan.
Doctors have already begun boycotting outpatient departments (OPDs) in Balochistan and threatened to expand their protests across the country if the government does not reverse its actions.
Dr. Chaudhry expressed concern that doctors from across Pakistan had gathered at the National Press Club in Islamabad due to fears of arrest.
The YDA also called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Army Chief to intervene, warning that the privatization move could worsen the law and order situation in Balochistan.
Dr. Rizwan Kundi stated that young doctors from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also facing similar issues, adding that the medical community across Pakistan was united in support of the YDA’s demands.
Additionally, the Young Consultants Association Pakistan condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of the detained doctors.
