KP govt releases 15 doctors; GHA vows to continue protest until all demands met – Pakistan

The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa released 15 doctors detained Friday night after an agreement was reached on one of the many lawsuits between a delegation of senior doctors and the health department.

The main of the many lawsuits filed by the Great Health Alliance of doctors, in addition to the release of detained health officials, was the revocation of the Regional and District Health Authorities Act (RDHA) of 2019.

Other lawsuits included the registration of cases against Dr. Nosherwan Burki and health minister Dr. Hisham Inamullah, the revocation of the RDHA Act, the end of Dr. Burki's role in the KP health sector and the elimination of Health Minister.

By accepting the only claim calling for the release of the doctors, the government announced that they would let them go without any conditions.

The doctors had been imprisoned in Mardan prison and were released after the withdrawal of Section 3 of the Public Order Maintenance Ordinance by Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Asghar.

"The health department contacted my office to withdraw Section 3 of the MPO to make possible the release of detained doctors and other personnel," he said. DawnNewsTV.

Meanwhile, the Alliance announced that "while the rest of the demands are being reviewed by the government," they will continue to organize their protest.

Violent clashes

On September 27, the Grand Health Alliance, a group of doctors, paramedics, nurses and other health personnel, had organized a protest at Lady Reading Hospital against the RDHA Act, which they described as "nothing less than the privatization of hospital hospitals. government". . That day violent clashes took place between the protesters, wounding 15 medical personnel and eight policemen. 15 doctors were also arrested.

The next day, a case was registered against 26 doctors, for "disturbing the peaceful environment of the hospital and participating in the embedding of the police."

In an unprecedented move, the government subsequently banned the gathering of five people and more at LRH facilities under Section 144 to avoid any interruption in the facilitation of patients for a period of 10 days.

Doctors, who had already boycotted OPDs and other services in government hospitals and private clinics, had threatened to completely boycott emergency services throughout the province if their demands were not met.

Doctors also demanded a judicial investigation into clashes with the police.

What is the 2019 Regional and District Health Authorities Act?

In accordance with the Regional and District Health Authorities Act of 2019, which was approved by the PK Assembly on Friday, the government will establish health authorities at the regional and district levels.

Federal and provincial governments will provide funds to each authority that will inform a policy board chaired by the KP health minister. Regional authorities will have the power to:

• ensure that the objectives established by the Regional Health Authority (RHA) are achieved and supervise effective management and issue strategic instructions for health facilities in the assigned region.

• approve the RHA budget and allocate funds to health facilities

• supervise the provision of health services

• implement government policies and directions

• ensure that your programs are effective and efficient

• guarantee transparency

The law also dictates that doctors who are already providing services will continue to be treated as public officials and will be entitled to a pension and other similar benefits. The regional health authority will have the authority to transfer doctors as needed at health centers in their respective home districts.

The law also says that the existing cadre will be treated as the "dying cadre" and will continue until the retirement of the last official, after which the posts will be abolished and the regional authorities will have the power to create positions and recruit according to regulations