GUJRAT: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has issued a final ultimatum to the federal government, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC), and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), demanding immediate resolution of longstanding grievances of the medical community by November 1, 2026, or face a phased nationwide shutdown of healthcare services.
The warning was issued during the All Pakistan PMA Convention held in Gujrat on Sunday, attended by approximately 500 senior medical professionals, provincial representatives, and healthcare leaders from across Pakistan.
The convention brought together the central leadership of PMA, its provincial branches, representatives of the Young Doctors Association (YDA), Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), and other medical stakeholders to discuss growing challenges confronting healthcare professionals.
Prominent participants included PMA Centre President Dr. Izhar Ahmed Chaudhary, Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, PMA Punjab President Dr. Kamran, PMA Punjab President-Elect Dr. Maqsood Zahid, PMA Sindh President-Elect Dr. Dayali Gul, PMA Balochistan General Secretary Dr. Zarak Baloch, PMA Karachi President Dr. Ismail Memon, YDA Sindh Chairman Dr. Mehboob Noonari, and YDA Punjab Patron-in-Chief Dr. Salman Haseeb.
Addressing the convention, medical leaders strongly opposed the selective implementation of the Point of Sale (POS) system on doctors and healthcare establishments, describing the measure as discriminatory and inappropriate for the medical profession.
The PMA leadership maintained that doctors regularly fulfill their legal tax obligations and should not be treated as commercial retailers. They demanded uniform taxation policies across professional service sectors, an immediate review of relevant FBR notifications, and meaningful consultation with medical stakeholders before introducing additional regulatory requirements.
The convention also expressed serious concern over the Punjab Healthcare Commission's practice of imposing heavy financial penalties during initial inspections of healthcare facilities.
PMA demanded that first-time inspections under the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) should focus on professional guidance, capacity building, and corrective measures rather than punitive action. The association called for immediate policy amendments and structured dialogue with healthcare regulators.
Medical leaders also condemned what they described as public humiliation of doctors during official hospital inspections, including the recording and circulation of videos on social media for political publicity.
They maintained that shortages of hospital beds, essential medicines, medical equipment, and healthcare staff were primarily the result of inadequate government resources and administrative shortcomings rather than individual clinical negligence.
The convention urged doctors to protect their professional dignity and exercise their legal rights against inappropriate administrative conduct.
Expressing solidarity with young doctors, PMA strongly opposed alleged retaliatory dismissals, cancellation of postgraduate training positions, termination of contracts, and arbitrary revocation of PMDC registrations involving doctors raising professional concerns.
The association demanded immediate and unconditional restoration of affected doctors' registrations, employment contracts, and residency training positions.
PMA Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro stated that the medical community had repeatedly sought resolution of these issues through dialogue but continued to face regulatory pressure, administrative harassment, and threats to professional rights.
He said the November 1 deadline represented a final opportunity for the authorities to address the medical community's demands through concrete policy decisions and written administrative assurances.
The convention warned that failure to resolve the grievances before the deadline would compel PMA, in coordination with its provincial branches and the Young Doctors Association, to initiate a phased nationwide shutdown of healthcare services.
According to the convention's declaration, the proposed protest could include closure of private clinics, public hospital outpatient departments, and healthcare facilities across the country.
The PMA leadership reiterated that it remained willing to resolve all outstanding matters through meaningful negotiations but would not compromise on the dignity, professional independence, and legitimate rights of doctors.
The convention concluded with a unanimous call for the federal and provincial authorities to take immediate action before November 1, 2026, to prevent a nationwide healthcare crisis.
