A two-day doctors strike shut outpatient departments, private clinics and routine diagnostic services across Pakistan on November 1 and 2, as the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and allied bodies protested against Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) raids on clinics, point-of-sale (POS) rules for consultations and criminal cases against doctors. Emergency services at government hospitals stayed open.
The strike was announced at PMA House in Karachi by senior doctors from four bodies: the Pakistan Medical Association, the Young Doctors’ Association, the Private Hospital & Clinics Association of Pakistan and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan.
Why the Doctors Strike Was Called
The doctors put forward these main demands:
- Stop FBR raids on private clinics and review the FBR notifications that apply retail-style POS systems to medical consultations.
- Apply uniform taxation across professional services, and consult medical representatives before new policies are introduced.
- Stop registering FIRs against doctors in alleged negligence cases without prior review by a certified, independent medical board.
- Pass the Healthcare Professionals Protection Act in Parliament without delay.
- Provide institutional, legal and physical security at all healthcare facilities.
PMA Centre President Dr Izhar Ahmed Chaudhary said the FBR drive treats clinics like a retail business and that coercive raids create an environment of intimidation. PMA Secretary General Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro said doctors are being treated like criminals for taking on critical cases, pointing to FIRs filed under Sections 302 and 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code after patient deaths, and said doctors are leaving Pakistan in record numbers.
Doctors Strike: Impact on Patients
In Gujranwala division, private hospitals, clinics and other health facilities stayed fully closed on both days after the Private Hospitals Association Gujranwala, led by Dr Mian Zahid Mahmood, backed the PMA call. Patients arriving from surrounding towns and villages found clinics shut and had to look for treatment elsewhere. In Balochistan, doctors also began a province-wide strike from November 1, objecting to taxes imposed by the FBR and the Balochistan Revenue Authority.
Timeline of the Protest
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 30 | Earlier nationwide shutdown of private OPDs and routine diagnostics |
| October 11 | All-Pakistan Doctors’ Convention in Gujrat, attended by about 500 senior doctors |
| Late October | Strike announced at PMA House, Karachi; PMA writes to the prime minister seeking dialogue |
| November 1-2 | Two-day nationwide strike; emergencies open at government hospitals |
| November 28 | PMA Central Council meeting to decide the next course of action |
How the Doctors Strike Affects You
Routine services have resumed after the two-day shutdown, but the dispute is not settled. Patients with planned surgeries or follow-up visits should confirm appointments directly with their hospital or clinic, especially in the run-up to the PMA meeting on November 28. In any urgent case, emergency departments of government hospitals remain the first option during a strike.
What Is the FBR POS System?
A point-of-sale (POS) system links a business’s billing machine directly to the FBR, so every invoice is reported in real time and carries a verification number. The FBR has used POS integration for years to document sales by large retailers and widen the tax net. Doctors argue that a medical consultation is a professional service, not a retail sale, and that bringing clinics under the same rules adds paperwork and cost that is finally passed on to patients.
What Happens Next
The PMA says its Central Council will decide on November 28 whether to call further strikes. The association has asked the prime minister to step in and open talks on taxation, police cases and the protection law before the dispute widens.
For official updates, visit the Federal Board of Revenue website.
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