Abbasi Shaheed Hospital: House officers threaten OPD shutdown over unpaid stipends

KARACHI: House officers at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital have intensified their protest over unpaid stipends and inadequate security, warning that they will suspend outpatient department (OPD) services if the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fails to address their demands.

Carrying placards and banners, the protesting doctors chanted slogans in support of their demands while continuing to provide medical services during the six-day protest to ensure patient care was not disrupted.

The house officers said they had been demonstrating for nearly a week over what they described as legitimate concerns. Despite the protest, they said they had continued performing their duties to avoid affecting patients.

The doctors said hospital security remained a major concern. They claimed that after accidents or patient deaths, large groups of attendants often entered the hospital, pressured doctors and attempted to interfere with treatment. They added that doctors regularly faced harassment and misconduct, but authorities had yet to introduce adequate security measures.

The protesters also questioned why house officers at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital were not receiving the same financial support as doctors at other public hospitals. They said they had not received their salaries for the past three months, while the agreed monthly stipend of Rs45,000 also remained unpaid.

The doctors further highlighted a shortage of essential medicines, saying the lack of supplies was affecting patient treatment and placing additional pressure on medical staff.

Warning of further action, the house officers said they would suspend OPD services and expand their protest if the authorities failed to meet their demands without delay.