Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar: doctors quit wards after alleged assault, emergency open

Doctors at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) Peshawar have walked out of the wards after security guards allegedly assaulted them during a peaceful protest on 30 September. The Neutral Doctors Community, which is behind the strike, says doctors will keep emergency cover running but everyone else will stay home until the dispute is settled.

What happened at LRH

The doctors had been on a pen-down strike for 24 days, demanding a 30% increase in basic salaries. On 30 September, they say, hospital security guards acting on the administration's orders attacked the protest inside the hospital. A day later the strike was escalated from a pen-down protest to a complete withdrawal from the wards.

The doctors' leaders accuse the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department of stalling and say they will now negotiate only with the Chief Minister. Health authorities had not issued a response when the escalation was announced.

What it means if you are a patient

LRH is the largest public hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and patients come to it from across the province and the merged districts. During a ward boycott:

• Emergency is meant to stay open. If you or a relative needs urgent care, go to the emergency department as usual.
• Admitted patients may see fewer doctors on rounds. Keep your file, prescriptions and test reports with you and ask the nurse in charge who is covering the ward.
• Planned admissions, surgery dates and follow-up appointments may be pushed back. Call the department before you travel, especially if you are coming from outside Peshawar.
• Other teaching hospitals in Peshawar, such as Khyber Teaching Hospital and Hayatabad Medical Complex, are an option for non-urgent care, though they may be busier than usual.

You can find hospitals in the city, with phone numbers and addresses, in our directory: hospitals in Peshawar.

What happens next

The strike ends only if the provincial government meets the doctors or offers a pay settlement. We will update this story when the health department or the Chief Minister's office responds.