BOONI, Sept 9, 2025: Patients at the only government hospital in Upper Chitral have been left without medical care as the entire staff of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Booni went on strike late Monday night, causing widespread concern among locals who depend on the facility.
The strike was triggered by a violent altercation in the hospital’s emergency ward on Monday evening between attendants of a patient and hospital staff. The clash quickly escalated into a physical fight, during which several doctors and paramedical staff members sustained serious injuries.
In reaction to the attack, the hospital employees abandoned their duties and staged a protest sit-in at Booni Chowk, demanding protection and justice. Although district administration officials later intervened and managed to convince the protesters to disperse from the chowk, the staff has refused to return to work inside the hospital.
The protesting employees maintain that they will not resume medical services until strict legal action is taken against those responsible for the attack. They accuse the patient’s attendants of assaulting them and say such violence has made it unsafe to continue working without assurance of security.
Meanwhile, no version or statement has so far been issued by the patient’s relatives regarding the incident. The ongoing strike has left patients and their families stranded, with the only government healthcare facility in the district effectively shut down.