KARACHI: Service disruption at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, eased on Tuesday after the Young Doctors Association (YDA) conditionally ended its boycott of OPDs, ward duties, and new admissions, following the registration of an FIR and written security assurances from the hospital administration.
The crisis began after an altercation inside the hospital between doctors and caretakers escalated into what the Young Doctors Association (YDA) NICH described as another serious episode in a pattern of violence against healthcare workers. In protest, doctors across departments suspended OPDs and halted admissions, triggering severe hardship for sick children and their families who were left waiting in long corridors and emergency areas without routine access to pediatric care. The disruption echoed previous security-related shutdowns at NICH, where violence against staff has remained a recurring concern.
You may also like to read: Sindh Health Department forms inquiry committee to investigate allegations of mismanagement and financial irregularities at NICH
As the protest intensified, the hospital administration, led by Director Prof. Dr. Nasir Saddal, initiated emergency talks with YDA representatives. According to the doctors’ account, three critical meetings were held over the course of the protest. During these sessions, doctors demanded immediate security reforms, registration of an FIR, written guarantees from the newly appointed security company, and a transparent inquiry into the root causes of the incident.
The breakthrough came when the administration provided doctors with a copy of the FIR in the presence of the SHO Saddar police station and handed over a signed and stamped security implementation plan, committing to complete all promised reforms within two weeks. YDA then made it clear that the boycott would only be withdrawn after a formal briefing to all doctors by the institutional leadership the next morning.
On the administrative side, NICH also constituted a three-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Professor Muhammad Ashfaq was appointed chairman, while Deputy Director Dr. Muhammad Yaqoob and OPD In-charge Dr. Saleem Ahmed were named as members. The committee has been tasked with submitting its report within seven days, after which action will be taken against all individuals found responsible.
People also read: Bilawal Bhutto opens state-of-the-art NICVD OPD block, announces new NICH medical tower
On April 7, 2026, the promised briefing session was held in the presence of the PG committee, faculty leadership, and doctors from across the institution, where hospital management formally outlined the agreed security arrangements and operational reforms. Following this, YDA announced a conditional end to the protest, and OPDs and admissions were restored in the interest of patient welfare.
However, the doctors made it clear that the restoration should not be interpreted as satisfaction with the administration’s performance. In its statement, YDA said the decision was taken solely to prevent further suffering for children and parents, while warning that any delay, negligence, or failure in implementing the promised security measures would trigger stronger action in the coming days.
The incident once again places the spotlight on a larger issue facing Pakistan’s public hospitals: the growing threat of violence against healthcare workers and its direct impact on patient care continuity. At a major pediatric referral center like NICH, even a short suspension of services can rapidly translate into pain, delayed diagnoses, and risk for critically ill children.
For now, services are back. But the next two weeks may determine whether this was a real institutional reset—or merely another temporary truce in city's hospital safety crisis.
Stay informed, stay protected
CLICK HERE TO JOIN Medical News Pakistan on WhatsApp for real-time health alerts, expert insights, and breakthrough medical discoveries.