A hospital is responsible not only for diagnosing and treating patients but also for providing psychological comfort. Healthcare professionals can fulfil these responsibilities effectively only when they themselves feel safe and supported. However, recent incidents have shown how this essential environment is increasingly being disrupted by disputes between healthcare workers and patients’ attendants.

Two incidents that attracted widespread attention on social media illustrate this troubling situation. On 7 September 2026, at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, a nursing officer was reportedly physically assaulted by patients’ attendants following a dispute over hospital rules and overcrowding. On 18 October, at Gulab Devi Hospital in Lahore, a female doctor and female attendants became involved in a physical confrontation over the treatment of a critically ill patient.

Although the circumstances differed, both incidents raised serious concerns about healthcare workers’ safety and the quality of patient care. Why are places dedicated to saving lives increasingly becoming scenes of confrontation?

One major cause is the shortage of healthcare resources. As a nursing student, I have witnessed critically ill patients and their families facing distressing situations while waiting for essential facilities, including ventilator support. Overcrowding, insufficient beds,........

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