The Grand Health Alliance continued their protest across Sindh on the second consecutive day to press the provincial government to accept their demands which include risk allowance for all doctors and a special package for the healthcare professionals dying of the coronavirus, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Tuesday.

Staging their protest at all hospitals in Sindh, they said there would be a two-hour token strike daily. The Grand Health Alliance comprises Pakistan Medical Association, Young Doctors Association, Young Nurses Association and Paramedical Joint Action Committee.

Other demands presented by the healthcare professionals include enacting a Health Facilities Security Bill by the provincial assembly, the establishment of separate isolation wards, creation of service structure and health insurance policy.

From the very beginning, the healthcare professionals have been calling for providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to all doctors, nurses, paramedics and other staff in government hospitals, as all of them are exposed to the coronavirus.

But the government, contrary to the facts and evidence, have been thinking otherwise, saying only those working in the designated wards or those dealing with the testing of suspected patients require the PPE.

Although the healthcare professionals in Sindh have resorted to this organised protest, the situation is the same in other provinces as many doctors and paramedical staff members have died after contracting the virus.

In a latest report, 24NewsHD TV channel said six more doctors – including the medical superintendent of Bahawal Victoria Hospital – contracted the coronavirus during the past 24 hours, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

But the medical superintendent, Dr Aziz-ur-Rehman, wasn’t alone at his home to be diagnosed with the infection as other family members too had tested positive for the virus. 

It means a total of 57 healthcare professionals so far been infected by the virus in Bahawalpur, as sources say the reason behind a large number of doctors testing positive for the virus is calling all of them on duty simultaneously. At least five doctors are being infected by the virus daily, they added.

The male young doctors are worst affected as, the sources say, they reside in hostels for which no policy has so far been formulated.

It is feared that more healthcare professionals, especially doctors, would contract the coronavirus due to the lack of a suitable policy and not changing the duty roaster.

Earlier on late Sunday night, Dr Ghazala Shaheen – senior demonstrator of Pharmacology Department – died of the t Nishtar Hospital in Multan after which her sister, Dr Rubina Mustafa, said she had died because of mismanagement.

She alleged that there was no senior doctor in the coronavirus intensive care unit and no ventilator or even cannula was available for the patient.