2 arrested for beating doctors at Kabul hospital: MoI

KABUL (Pajhwok): Two men have been arrested for beating doctors at the Mohammad Ali Jinnah Hospital in Kabul, the Ministry of Interior said on Monday.

Tariq Arian, spokesman for the ministry, told Pajhwok Afghan News the men thrashed doctors and health workers following the death of their relative -- a Covid-19 patient.

The detainees also damaged hospital equipment, according to Arian, who said Gul Mohammad and Habibullah were arrested by police on Sunday evening.

“Anyone who mistreats doctors or damages Afghanistan’s assets will be arrested and handed over to judicial organs,” he warned.

The spokesman urged people to stand by doctors at this difficult time and refrain from insulting them.

Earlier, Minister of Public Health Dr. Wahid Majrooh shared information and photos of the ugly incident on his Facebook page.

Majrooh also shared the message of a female worker of the Mohammad Ali Jinnah Hospital: “Hello, Mr. Minister, hope, are you good? Today, a Covid-19 patient died in the ICU. After the death of the patient. all our colleagues were beaten by four relatives of the dead. I was beaten with a basic serum regulator and a pressure device in my head. Another person seized my hand and pulled me out but no one defended us.”

Later on, President Ashraf Ghani said the government was committed to protecting the dignity of doctors. He promised prosecuting those who mistreated them.

sa/mud