KARACHI / QUETTA: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Wednesday said that its nationwide call for the closure of private outpatient departments (OPDs), hospital consultations and routine diagnostic services remained successful, claiming that private healthcare services were suspended across the country, with doctors also staging peaceful demonstrations against “retail-style taxation on healthcare services.”

Addressing a press conference at the PMA House, the leaders also announced an All-Pakistan Doctors’ Convention in Gujrat on Oct 11, warning that doctors could launch an extended, indefinite nationwide healthcare shutdown if the federal government fails to withdraw what the association described as “hostile” tax and regulatory measures against the medical profession.

The press conference followed a nationwide one-day strike by doctors, called by the PMA and supported by the Young Doctors Association (YDA), speciality societies and healthcare institutions. The association said private OPDs, consultations and routine diagnostic services remained closed across the country, while emergency rooms, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), CCUs and other critical services continued operating.

PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said the doctors’ community had exhausted avenues of dialogue with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Ministry of Finance before resorting to the strike.

PMA says private healthcare services remain suspended in major cities; announces All-Pakistan Doctors’ Convention in Gujrat on Oct 11

“We met twice with the FBR chairman and once with the federal minister for finance. In our very first meeting, high-level commitments were made and they promised to withdraw the POS mandate from private hospitals and clinics. However, the FBR completely failed to honour that promise,” he said.

Dr Shoro said the medical community subsequently approached the FBR chairman again to seek implementation of the earlier commitment, but the association was not satisfied with the response.

“Having exhausted every avenue of dialogue and negotiation, we were left with no other option except to go on strike,” he said.

Flanked by PMA Karachi President Dr Ismail Memon and PMA Karachi General Secretary Dr Shahid Mamsa, the association leader said that the strike led to the closure of private OPDs and chambers in major cities and districts of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The association said joint demonstrations and rallies were also held in several areas.

The PMA criticised the application of Point-of-Sale (POS) requirements and penalties under Section 175C to medical practices, arguing that healthcare should not be treated in the same manner as conventional commercial businesses.

Meanwhile, all private hospitals remained closed across Balochistan on Wednesday in protest against the imposition of taxes by the FBR and the provincial revenue agency.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals demonstrated outside the Bolan Medical Complex in response to a joint call for strike by the PMA, the YDA and the Balochistan Medical Teachers Association.

Addressing the demonstrators, the speakers condemned the imposition of taxes on private hospitals, laboratories, and clinics, warning that the move would raise healthcare costs and place a heavy financial burden on the public.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026