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Protest Against Hospital Privatization Turns Violent in Lahore, Medical Staff Strike Continues
Protests against hospital privatization in Lahore turn violent as police arrest demonstrators and shut CM Office gates. Medical staff strike continues, worsening patient hardships.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-28
Protest Against Hospital Privatization Turns Violent in Lahore, Medical Staff Strike Continues

Lahore: The ongoing protests against the proposed privatization of government hospitals in Lahore turned violent on Thursday as demonstrators from the Grand Health Alliance clashed with police near the Chief Minister’s Office. Protesters breached barriers and reached the CM Office, where the police responded by cordoning off the main gate and arresting several of the demonstrators.

Amid the scuffles, the protesters broke the windows of a police prisoner van and raised slogans against the authorities. In retaliation, the police began detaining the protesters and loading them into the van. The Grand Health Alliance has condemned the police's actions, claiming that peaceful, unarmed protesters were subjected to lathi charges. In response, the alliance announced that it would close the emergency services in government hospitals, severely impacting the healthcare system.

A spokesperson for the police defended their actions, claiming that they were exercising patience in handling the situation, especially with heightened security concerns due to the presence of PSL teams and foreign players in the vicinity. The spokesperson also criticized protesters for using women as shields and attacking police officers with objects like scissors and syringes. They argued that a small group with political motives was seeking to escalate the situation and turn it into violence.

Meanwhile, the ongoing strike by medical staff, which has entered its ninth day, continues to paralyze government hospitals. Medical staff in various hospitals, including Services Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, and Punjab Institute of Cardiology, have locked their rooms and closed outdoor and slip counters. This has left thousands of patients without access to basic medical services, causing significant hardships.

Patients and their families have expressed frustration, stating that the ongoing strike is making it extremely difficult to receive medical care. Despite the ongoing protest, the government has yet to make any official response to the medical staff’s demands or provide a solution to the crisis.

The Young Doctors Association (YDA), which is spearheading the protests, has voiced its opposition to the government's potential privatization of hospitals, citing the negative impact it could have on public health services. As the strike persists, the future of healthcare in Lahore hangs in the balance, with no clear resolution in sight.
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LahoreProtests

HospitalPrivatization

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