The Health Alliance has announced a complete closure of outpatient departments (OPDs), dispensaries, and vaccination services in all government hospitals in Islamabad in protest against the conduct of the Federal Health Minister. The alliance is demanding the Health Minister’s immediate resignation and calling for his replacement with someone from the medical profession who understands the needs of frontline healthcare workers.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the alliance’s core committee, chaired by Chairman Kaleemullah and President Qamar Gujar, and attended by representatives from major hospitals and health institutions including PIMS, Polyclinic, NIRM, NIH, FGSH, CDA, TB hospitals, and the District Health Office. The committee voiced strong condemnation of what they described as the Health Minister’s irresponsible and inappropriate attitude.
In their statement, health workers expressed deep frustration at years of what they see as neglect and unfair policies. They criticized the government’s allocation of resources, pointing out that while billions of rupees are spent annually on parliamentarians and privileged groups, the legitimate demands of healthcare staff have been ignored for the past decade. The rising cost of living and continued wage disparities have left healthcare employees feeling disheartened and demoralized, according to the alliance.
The Health Alliance further warned that if any retaliatory measures are taken against workers participating in the protest, they will actively defend affected employees and seek action against the officials responsible. The alliance emphasized that services will remain suspended— including participation in the polio immunization campaign and the release of records by the District Health Office— until the government issues a formal notification restoring the health allowance for employees.
The protest highlights ongoing tensions between frontline health staff and policymakers, with the alliance insisting that only genuine engagement and fair policies will end the current disruption to essential health services in the capital.
Weldone Colleagues, keep it up.
This is the only way left for protest.