Pashtunkhwa MEP Stands Against Privatization of Hospitals, Demands Immediate Action for Healthcare Improvements

Quetta:The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP), led by Provincial General Secretary Kabir Afghan, has voiced strong opposition to the privatization of government hospitals, emphasizing that the improvement of the healthcare sector and providing accessible treatment to the general public is the government’s responsibility. The party also expressed concern over the delay in the construction of the Surgical and Medical Towers at Sandeman Hospital in Quetta, calling it a regrettable situation.

Speaking at a protest rally held by young doctors, pharmacists, paramedics, physiotherapists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, Kabir Afghan reiterated his party’s support for the legitimate demands of the protesting healthcare workers. Afghan condemned the government’s privatization policy, which he argued amounts to auctioning off public assets to corrupt, bribery-prone officials and private companies. He stressed that the privatization of public hospitals will not improve the national economy but will only exacerbate the crisis by allowing wealthy private firms to profit from public resources.

“Privatization is essentially selling off public property to private companies. This policy will not bring any positive change to the country’s economy. What will help is bringing back the billions of rupees stashed in foreign banks by those who have looted the national treasury,” he stated.

Afghan also highlighted the dire state of healthcare in Balochistan, noting that millions of people in the province, particularly in Quetta, are deprived of even basic medical facilities. He pointed out that major hospitals in Quetta fail to meet the fundamental healthcare needs of the public, leaving thousands of poor and vulnerable patients without access to essential treatment.

“In the current era of high inflation, the common man can no longer afford private healthcare, and their only option is public hospitals. The government must take immediate and concrete steps to address the barriers preventing access to essential healthcare services,” Afghan stressed.

The party leader further underscored that Balochistan’s public hospitals, especially those in Quetta, are constantly burdened with thousands of patients in need of medical care. To alleviate the situation, the PKMAP has called for urgent upgrades to existing hospital infrastructure, particularly the construction of the long-awaited Surgical and Medical Towers at Civil Hospital Quetta. Afghan also demanded that all medical departments, including neurosurgery and gynecology, be modernized with state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring complete staffing and availability of essential medicines.

“Immediate action is needed to improve the capacity of hospitals to handle the healthcare demands of the people. This includes ensuring the full attendance of doctors and staff, the provision of necessary medicines, and upgrading medical equipment to provide the best possible care for our people,” Afghan concluded.

The Pashtunkhwa MEP’s statement serves as a strong call for the government to prioritize healthcare reform and take swift action to ensure that all Balochistan residents, especially those in vulnerable communities, receive the treatment and care they deserve.