The Young Doctors Association (YDA) on Thursday continued their protest in a high security area of Quetta demanding better facilities at government hospitals and calling for the release of 19 colleagues arrested during a crackdown on protesters, reported Aaj News.

The health personnel were arrested for protesting in an area declared ''red zone" where there is a ban on demonstration.

The members of the association have been protesting against lack of basic facilities and equipment in the government-run hospitals in the provincial capital. One of their demands is payment of risk allowance to those doctors who served during the Covid pandemic.

They also urged officials to take back the cases against the arrested health personnel, who were indicted by a local court two days ago, and release them.

The government negotiation team comprising Balochistan government spokesperson Abdul Rehman Khetran, and ministers Syed Ahsan Shah and Zamrak Achakzai say that MRI machines have been installed in the hospitals and other facilities were being provided.

The government is ready to negotiate with the doctors but they have to end the strike first and resume their duties, said one of the negotiating team members.

Meanwhile, the YDA postponed the decision to boycott emegency services which they had planned for today.

However, the out patient departments, operation theatres and other departments of the government-run hospitals remained shut due to the protest, according to the Aaj News report.