MINGORA: A six-day-long protest against the Medical Teaching Institutions (MTI) Act and the proposed privatisation of government hospitals concluded outside the Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital on Saturday, as protesters announced a grand jirga on tomorrow (Monday) to decide the future course of action.
The protest, held at Saidu Sharif Chowk, was attended by traders, civil society representatives, social activists and people from various walks of life. The participants made it clear that the movement was neither politically motivated nor aimed at serving personal interests, but was launched to protect the people’s fundamental right to healthcare.
The protesters said that flawed and anti-public policies of the provincial government had forced them to take to the streets. They warned that the implementation of the MTI Act and privatisation of public hospitals would disproportionately affect the poor and middle classes, as private healthcare services were beyond the reach of common citizens.
The demonstrators demanded that Saidu Sharif Hospital be officially declared a district headquarters hospital with modern facilities and that its Category-A notification be issued without delay.
Addressing the gathering, spokesperson for the Swat Traders Federation and former nazim of Saidu Sharif, Dr Khalid Mahmood Khalid, said public pressure would continue until the MTI Act was completely withdrawn and written guarantees were given to protect public hospitals. He stressed that healthcare would not be allowed to be turned into a commercial business.
Announcing the end of the sit-in, Dr Khalid said a grand jirga would be held on February 19 at Saidu Medical College to chalk out the future strategy. Representatives of political parties, the lawyers’ community, traders, journalists, civil society members and elders from different walks of life have been invited to participate, where restoration of the district hospital and other demands will be discussed.
