PMA Announces Nationwide Private Hospital, Clinic Closure for Sept 30

The Pakistan Medical Association has announced that private hospitals and clinics across the country will remain closed on September 30 as part of a nationwide protest over tax-related measures affecting the medical sector. The decision was announced on Saturday as the association escalated its opposition to regulatory and enforcement steps being implemented by the Federal Board of Revenue.

The medical body said the planned shutdown is directed against the implementation of the Point-of-Sale system, proceedings under Section 175(C) and enforcement practices that it considers excessively aggressive toward doctors and private healthcare institutions. The association has called for the federal government to intervene before the scheduled protest takes place.

According to the association's central leadership, private medical institutions throughout Pakistan have been asked to participate in the September 30 closure. Its Punjab organisation has also instructed district branches and provincial councillors to implement the decision and mobilise doctors and healthcare operators in their respective areas.

District presidents and general secretaries have been directed to contact private clinics and hospitals and encourage participation in the protest. The association also plans to engage members of the medical community and civil society as it seeks broader support for its position on the tax measures.

The medical body argues that the new compliance requirements could increase the financial and administrative burden on private healthcare providers. It has warned that additional costs imposed on medical institutions could ultimately affect patients through higher treatment expenses, although the impact would depend on how the measures are implemented and how healthcare providers respond.

The September 30 closure has been described by the association as a symbolic protest rather than the end of its campaign. The dispute is expected to continue beyond the shutdown, with medical representatives preparing for further consultations over their response to the tax authority's policies.

A major convention has been scheduled for October 11 in Gujrat, where district-level representatives from Punjab and participants from other parts of the country are expected to discuss the situation. The gathering is intended to review the government's response and determine what additional steps the medical community may take if its concerns remain unresolved.

PMA Punjab President Dr Kamran Saeed Sheikh has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene in the dispute. The association is seeking changes or reconsideration of measures it says could place additional pressure on private healthcare institutions and patients. Attention will now turn to whether talks with federal authorities before September 30 lead to any change in the planned nationwide closure.