Lives of doctors at stake but govt busy in targeting Sharifs, media: PML-N

PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb on Monday said the lives of healthcare workers were at stake but the government was going after Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and media.

Marriyum said the prime minister and his spokespersons should explain through press conferences and tweets that why the doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff had not received personnel protection equipment (PPE).

In a statement, Marriyum said they should also focus on the people affected by the coronavirus after sparing some time from levelling allegations against Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.

Stressing the need for providing the PPE, she said no arrangements had been made for the doctors working at the district, tehsil and union council levels. The doctors dealing with the infected people must also be tested for the coronavirus to ensure their safety, the PML-N spokesperson added.

She said the prime minister had not restored the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) only because of ego despite the court orders.

The issue of the missing PPE is in the news as there are reports of doctors and healthcare staff being infected by the virus in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and other cities.

In Quetta, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan is staging a protest against the government over its failure to provide the safety gear on Monday.

However, police have resorted to baton charge and arrested several doctors after they refused to end the sit-in in the city’s red zone.

According to the YDA, at least 12 doctors have so far been tested positive for the virus in the province.