The Grand Health Alliance Balochistan (GHAB) today expressed strong opposition to the provincial government’s plans to privatize government-run hospitals and implement contract-based hiring in the health department.

During a protest demonstration held at Mufti Mehmood Memorial Hospital in Kuchlak on Monday, GHAB leaders highlighted the dire state of healthcare in Balochistan.

Speakers, including Chairman Dr Bahar Shah and Spokesman Dr Saboor, said that government hospitals in the province already faced severe shortages of staff and healthcare facilities. They criticized the provincial government for attempting privatization instead of addressing these deficiencies by hiring staff through the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC).

They pointed out that approximately 500 positions in the health department remain unfilled, exacerbating the challenges in the healthcare system.

GHAB leaders also revealed that they had been protesting for 19 consecutive days, demanding government action to address their concerns, but no meaningful response had been forthcoming. The protest featured several speakers, including Fazal-ur-Rehman Kakar and Hazrat, who reiterated the alliance’s stance against privatization and contract-based hiring, urging the government to prioritize strengthening public healthcare in the province.