LAHORE: The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) Punjab intensified its protest against the proposed privatisation of public hospitals by shutting down outpatient departments (OPDs) across government hospitals in the province.
Major hospitals in Punjab like Jinnah Hospital, General Hospital, and Children’s Hospital have suspended OPD services.
The protest sit-in continues outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House. Protesters say the sit-in will not end until the government reverses the privatisation decision.
According to GHA, police used water cannons to disperse peaceful demonstrators.
GHA protesters, police clash outside CM Secretariat
The alliance warned that any government action would be met with a strong response.
Health workers’ unions are pushing back hard against the government’s plan to privatise public health services. The controversial policy, announced in March, aims to outsource operations at Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) — key pillars of primary healthcare across Punjab.
The government has also announced the privatisation of public hospitals, sparking widespread protests across the province.
Led by the Grand Health Alliance (GHA), health workers launched a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly in Lahore on April 7. With growing support from Public Services International (PSI) and its affiliates, the protest movement is gaining strength.