Doctors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rejected the appreciation certificates awarded by the provincial government, stating they needed risk allowance, not any certification or salutes, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

The reaction came as the government gave certificates to the doctors for showing courage and determination in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Provincial Doctors Association said they neither needed salutes or any certificates as they demanded risk allowance for the medics who fight the coronavirus while endangering their own lives.

Calling for passing the pending legislation for the security of doctors and other healthcare professionals, they said 16 doctors and two nurses as well as two other staff members – a Class-IV employee and an accountant – had martyred in the province since the coronavirus outbreak.

A total of 1,850 healthcare professionals – out which 856 were doctors – had so far been infected by the coronavirus, the Provincial Doctors Association added.

Other demands pressed by the representative body are: regularising the doctors working on ad-hoc posts, induction of qualified doctors under PGMI and convening the promotion boards meeting for those working in general and management cadres, who are deprived of promotions for the last two years.

Anxiety is visible among healthcare professionals, especially doctors, since the coronavirus outbreak in the country. They have been critical of the government for not providing the personal protection equipment (PPE) and the financial support they deserved.

At least 48 doctors, with some reports suggesting that the number stands at 88, have resigned from different teaching hospitals of Punjab.