As fear has gripped the healthcare professionals employed at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) over the coronavirus spread, the doctors working at Islamabad’s largest health facility revealed that they asked to resign if they could not perform their duties.

The latest report by 24NewsHD TV channel came as two doctors working at the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar – the main health centre of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital – tendered their resignation over the administration’s failure to take necessary precautionary measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The two doctors submitting their resignations are Dr Ayesha and ICU Consultant Dr Mazhar.

The doctors said the virus was infecting the staff associated with the dialysis process at an alarming rate.

A total of four staff members, including two doctors, working at the Nephrology Department have contracted the coronavirus.

According to sources, a patient and two staffers have so far been tested positive for the virus at the dialysis centre. A total of 70 patients visit the facility but none of them has ever been tested for the virus.

The doctors said they had requested the executive director who responded that there was no need of screening and were also told that they should resign if they did not want to perform their duties.

A total of 18 staff members, including 10 doctors, have so far been tested positive for the virus at PIMS.