PMA Lauds Private Healthcare Strike, Condemns Government’s Body Camera Decision

By Farzana Chaudhry
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: Dr. Wajid Ali, General Secretary of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore, expressed satisfaction over the successful strike by private healthcare institutions across two divisions of Punjab. He praised the complete unity and solidarity of management and staff of private hospitals, clinics, and medical centers, describing the strike as an important step against the enforcement of POS (Point of Sale) systems by the FBR.
Dr. Wajid Ali congratulated Dr. Maqsood Zahid, President-Elect PMA Punjab, and his colleagues for the successful coordination of the strike. He highlighted that PMA has always stood as the flag-bearer of the legitimate rights of health professionals.
He strongly condemned the government’s decision to install body cameras on healthcare professionals, calling it an attack on the dignity and autonomy of medical staff and a serious threat to patient privacy, particularly for female patients in wards and gynecology departments where confidentiality is critical. He warned that such surveillance could undermine the trust between doctors and patients, and might discourage women from seeking necessary medical treatment, potentially leading to severe health consequences.
Dr. Wajid Ali demanded that the government immediately review this decision, emphasizing that surveillance violating privacy is unacceptable. “We support every measure to ensure patient safety, but not at the cost of basic human rights and the integrity of the treatment process,” he said.
He reaffirmed that PMA will continue to fight for the rights of healthcare workers, protect patient privacy, and uphold the honor and dignity of the medical profession in both the private and public sectors.