Name: Doctors, nurses in Punjab launch hunger strike over virus protection fears
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Doctors, nurses in Punjab launch hunger strike over virus protection fears

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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDozens of doctors and nurses in Punjab have launched a hunger strike demanding adequate protective equipment for frontline staff treating coronavirus patients, the lead organiser of the protest said on Saturday.Health workers have complained for weeks that the country's hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear, prompting the of more than 50 doctors who called for more supplies in Quetta earlier this month.Frontline staff have been left vulnerable, with more than 150 medical workers testing positive for the virus nationwide, according to the Young Doctors' Association (YDA) in worst-hit Punjab.The protesters have kept working in their hospitals while taking turns to demonstrate outside the health authority offices in Lahore.“We do not intend on stopping until the government listens to our demands. They have been consistently refusing to adhere to our demands,” said doctor Salman Haseeb.Haseeb heads the province's Grand Health Alliance, which is organising the protest, and he said he had not eaten since April 16.“We are on the frontline of this virus and if we are not protected then the whole population is at risk,” he told AFP.The alliance said about 30 doctors and nurses were on hunger strike, with up to 200 medical staff joining them each day for demonstrations.Punjab's health workers union is supporting the alliance and also demanding adequate quarantine conditions for medical staff.Nearly three dozen doctors, nurses and paramedics contracted the virus in one hospital in Multan, while seven members of a doctor's family were infected in Lahore, it added.“We are simply demanding justice for our community,” said doctor and YDA chairman Khizer Hayat.Hospital staff would not escalate their protest by walking off the job, he added.Punjab health department officials told AFP that hospitals had now been provided with adequate protection gear after an earlier “backlog” was resolved.Earlier this month, the provincial government announced that frontline workers will be awarded a pay bonus and life insurance.Almost half of the more than 12,000 confirmed Covid-19 infections across the country have been recorded in Punjab.Frontline medical workers across the world have been grappling with short supplies of vital safety equipment since the start of the pandemic.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementComments (50) ClosedThese educated people feel threatenedAnd the govt is ignorant helpless and uselessPPE is the birthright of all frontline healthcare workers.Genuine and reasonable demand. Tomorrow there will be a statement from the authorities that doctors and paramedics safety is our paramount aim.R.S. Menon, GurgaonMedicos are up-front &amp; most vulnerable in coronavirus crisis. And, government is busy in making their lives miserable by promulgating unnecessary SOPs to be observed by irresponsible authorities.Even after two months, the government is not able to provide protective gear. How can they protect a whole nation of 220 million if they can't do it for front line medical soldiers? Two months is enough time to produce or procure these masks and clothing and keep supply chain running without disruptions. I also wonder, that if the situation so bad in the capital cities then what one should expect at tehsil and district hospitals.Help them or they cannot help us.Entire Pakistan, mostly the poor is suffering from hunger, with on going sugar &amp; wheat rising prices.PM IK must launch some program for these doctors &amp; nurses.The services rendered by medical community is duly acknowledged and appreciated by public by large. However, few of them are motivated by politics by creating issues that should been addressed and resolved by and between there respective organization. This is not the time for (handful) medical professional to play politics when the country is busy fighting COVID 19. The medical licensing board must take due cognizance and take appropriate action where it deem necessary.If Chinese virus won’t kill , they will die from hunger. As government is helpless@Shahid, youth and fatih are the keyIf don't help doctors, how can help people ? Or don't support them and don't expect from them.@Kaju, common sense is the key.IK must order them to get to work in these difficult times. We must mange with what we have.They are 100% correct in demanding essential medical protection and proper facilities for their protection and proper care of patients.Do physically distance and wear your masks while protesting :)Why are some not at least wearing masks?useless incompetent govtIf govt protect health workers, they will protect people.If PPE is not given all Health Staff will fall sick. Then who will treats patients?100% blackmailersPakistan is not a wealthy nation. They should compromise. Now is the time to show their patriotism.What a sightless Government ! When front line warriors against dreaded virus are not provided with their essential tools and protective gears, the war against virus is already lost.And the reason is for not providing PPE is?If these people not work, tigers will do.@Citizen, super statement. I agreeIK is a great visionary leader. How can these Doctors are so ignorant?IK is a great Caption, he will create great SOPs, just wait and watch.IK is one the most visionary leadership in entire world.@Kareem,Are you serious???I have seen many a doctor and nurses in Europe trying to save lives even when they did not have adequate protection themselves. These young Pakistani doctors, by going on hunger strike, have made their choice apparent. Their own lives are more important than their patients.It's three weeks since the protest at queta.no lessons seem to be learntShame on PakistanThis government is helpless to do anything for anyone till adequate pressure is applied by each and everyone.Doctors and nurses should not do politics. They should get on with their work.Lets see will.ik blame nawaz for this alsoHe has had enough time to plan for health sectorBut noCpec was more importantWe can see the consequencesThe personal protective equipment are easy to make from plastic sheets. The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage has been a constant problem for the govt for 3 months. Why the companies in the country make these overall locally? The govt should give a contract to many companies to make the PPE.why the govt not providing PPEs to the foot soldiers fighting with Covid 19I thought we had PPE from China for them already@Moeazze, shortages as they are saying@Aziz, Do you have any idea how infectious this virus is ? These people are taking risk everyday knowing they are going to frontline with very good chances they will get infected and worse their family may get infected as well.They have option to stay at home and not worry about getting their family infected.Have some humanity.To all people commenting on this forum, I would like to inform you that, it is the case in every country. I am in the UK and docs and nurses are very short of PPE but they did not stop working. Their demands are exactly the same but the did not walkout because they have a duty to perform. It has affected all the countries.Basic common sense states that health care people must be adequately protected. If they are so vulnerable than they will surely fall sick. Then who will treat the people?It is very sad that they have to fight for PPE's.Ignore their plea at your own peril.Protesting doctors shall be put behind bars., As a doctor he has to sacrifice his life to save his patients. Why dont they seem to have concern about patients. PPE is a basic requirement., not a mandatory requirement. Doctors should return to work and protect patients. Besides, more and more prayers shall be offered to protect the patients. I am sure Prayers will definitely heal the injuries.Whose job it is to provide PPEs to the Healthcare workers and other staff, who are fighting the war against Coronavirus?Did somebody say NDMA?I cant believe this is even up for discussion. ALL health professionals working at hospitals, clinics, laboratories, private or public must have protective medical gear or PPE. Common sense. Doesn't matter whether they work directly with Covid-19 ward, or not, because if someone is infected with covid-19, it isn't written on their forehead. The risk is omnipresent. Now if only they had been clerics. Then they would get funds no questions asked.PPE or no PPE why are these doctors sitting close to each other, not following simple social distancing rules.Equip them with PPE to save their life since many has already faced the virus and some died.China has managed to protect itself, but the virus has spread across the worldIn the world only Pakistan doctors going on strike at this time, it is showing the Pakistan financial position. It's very bad for society.Nothing to be proud of that these professionals have deserted their responsibility they could have improvise as done by the dedicated workers in many other countries, shortages of equipment &amp; PPE is universal &amp; they have stood up together in this hour of emergencyIt's shame and failuar of Government measures to tackle with Corona. Just due to lack of adequate measures and PPE kit doctor's on strike in Pakistan. 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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDozens of doctors and nurses in Punjab have launched a hunger strike demanding adequate protective equipment for frontline staff treating coronavirus patients, the lead organiser of the protest said on Saturday.Health workers have complained for weeks that the country's hospitals are suffering chronic shortages of safety gear, prompting the of more than 50 doctors who called for more supplies in Quetta earlier this month.Frontline staff have been left vulnerable, with more than 150 medical workers testing positive for the virus nationwide,...

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Doctors, nurses in Punjab launch hunger strike over virus protection fears

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