Young Doctors Association provincial president, Dr. Asfandyar Betani, said that the government has completely failed to provide protection to doctors. 

He stated that if basic facilities were available at Kohat Hospital, the tragic incident of Dr. Mehwish’s murder would not have occurred.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, Dr. Asfandyar Betani said that due to the provincial government’s failed policies, doctors are forced to deal with dead bodies on a daily basis. 

For the past twelve years, the government has been busy only making policies, while no practical measures have been taken.

He warned that if their demands are not met, the centers of protest will be the Chief Minister’s House and Adiala Jail.

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He said that the provincial government bears full responsibility for the murder of Dr. Mehwish, and providing protection to doctors is the government’s foremost duty.

He added that due to the lack of basic facilities in hospitals, patients’ relatives lose patience, which results in tragic incidents.

Dr. Asfandyar said that the Chief Minister and provincial ministers/ advisors avoid taking action against corrupt individuals involved in embezzling government funds, regardless of whether they are relatives of high-ranking officials.

According to him, large-scale thefts and financial corruption scandals from hospitals are also continuously coming to light.

The Young Doctors Association demanded that the killers of Dr. Mehwish be arrested and made an example of, all government hospitals be provided with basic facilities, and doctors be given protection to prevent such incidents in the future.

Dr. Asfandyar stated that although the provincial assembly has passed a law for the protection of doctors, it is not being implemented.

Finally, he made it clear that the government must take immediate action; otherwise, protests and sit-ins will escalate to the Chief Minister’s House and Adiala Jail to ensure doctors’ rights are recognized and the public receives better medical facilities.