The Grand Health Alliance (GHA) Punjab has extended its protest for the 17th consecutive day, staging a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday. The ongoing demonstration is in response to the provincial government’s plans to privatize public health facilities.

Alongside the sit-in, young doctors and medical staff continued their strike in Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) at government hospitals across the province. Wednesday marked the fourth day of OPD closures, leaving patients—especially those seeking regular checkups and non-emergency care—facing serious difficulties.

In Lahore’s teaching hospitals, long queues and lack of basic services in the outdoor wards added to the frustration of patients and their families, who often travel long distances for treatment.

The protesting healthcare workers argue that the government’s privatization move threatens to reduce access to affordable care, particularly for the poor, while putting additional pressure on an already strained public health system.

Despite ongoing talks, no breakthrough has been reported, and the GHA has vowed to continue its protest until their demands are met.