Sukkur : The leaders of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Sukkur have announced that doctors across the country will observe a nationwide Unity Day on September 30 in protest against the tax policy affecting doctors and the alleged pressure exerted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). They said that doctors in Sukkur, Sindh and across Pakistan stand united on one platform and will continue to raise their voices until their legitimate demands are addressed.
The PMA Sukkur leaders said that doctors have been paying taxes regularly for many years while performing their professional duties and consider themselves responsible taxpayers. However, they alleged that the existing tax procedures are placing additional financial pressure on doctors and consultants, a situation they strongly oppose.
They stated that the primary responsibility of doctors is to provide medical care to patients and serve humanity. The government and relevant institutions should understand the concerns of the medical community by holding consultations with its representatives and developing a practical and appropriate mechanism that would allow doctors to operate their clinics and medical centres without unnecessary pressure.
The PMA leaders announced that outpatient department (OPD) services and private clinics across the country would remain closed for 24 hours on September 30 as part of Unity Day. However, emergency services will continue uninterrupted. Doctors serving in hospitals will continue to attend to admitted patients, provide care in intensive care units and perform other essential medical duties. Patient examinations and routine medical rounds will also continue as usual.
The PMA leaders clarified that the purpose of the protest is not to cause difficulties for patients but to draw the attention of the government and the FBR to the problems faced by doctors and their concerns regarding taxation. They emphasised that doctors are not protesting against the government but are raising their voices for the resolution of their legitimate issues and the introduction of an appropriate tax policy.
They further stated that every doctor has individual financial, family and professional responsibilities, and it is not appropriate to treat all doctors as having the same financial status. According to the leaders, many doctors examine a limited number of patients daily and must also bear clinic expenses, electricity bills, staff salaries and other household and professional costs. Therefore, the tax system should be designed by taking ground realities and the actual income of doctors into consideration.
The PMA leaders said that the government should ensure that the tax collection mechanism is transparent, reasonable and practical so that taxpayers do not face unnecessary difficulties. They reaffirmed that doctors would continue to pay taxes in accordance with the law, but stressed that problems associated with the tax collection procedure should be resolved through consultations.
They appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan, the chief ministers and governors of all four provinces, the relevant federal and provincial ministers, secretaries and FBR officials to hold formal negotiations with representatives of the medical community without delay and find an acceptable solution to the issues concerning taxation.
The leaders said that the September 30 Unity Day is a collective initiative by doctors across Pakistan to express their concerns. They expressed their desire to resolve the matter through dialogue with the government and relevant institutions, adding that decisions should be made through mutual consultation to ensure an effective tax system without imposing unnecessary difficulties on doctors.
In conclusion, the PMA Sukkur leaders appealed to doctors across Sindh and the rest of Pakistan to participate actively in Unity Day on September 30 and observe the announced 24-hour closure of OPD services and private clinics. They emphasised that emergency services, treatment of admitted patients, intensive care and all other essential medical services must continue uninterrupted to ensure that patients receive the medical care they need.
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