K-P doctors demand 100% pay hike

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Doctors Association has given the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government a two-week deadline to approve a 100 per cent salary increase, warning that doctors will begin suspending healthcare services in phases if their demands are not met.

Speaking at a press conference after a protest outside the Peshawar Press Club, association chairman Dr Zubair said services would first be halted at divisional headquarters hospitals before expanding to all hospitals across the province in the second phase.

Accompanied by other association leaders, Dr Zubair said doctors' salaries have remained unchanged since 2016 despite a sharp rise in inflation. He called for a substantial pay raise in the upcoming provincial budget and urged authorities to end political interference in hospitals.

The association also demanded merit-based appointments and action against corruption, nepotism and favouritism within the health department. Doctors argued that current salaries for specialists, medical officers and teaching staff no longer reflect economic realities.

Dr Zubair further criticised what he described as excessive fees imposed by the Federal Board of Revenue and the Healthcare Commission through registration, licensing and training requirements. He also alleged that promotions for doctors had been delayed for years and called for an immediate meeting of the promotion board.

Appealing to the chief minister and health minister, he said many doctors were earning between Rs50,000 and Rs60,000 per month, while some private hospitals paid even less. He added that despite low salaries, doctors continued to face increasing tax deductions and financial pressures.