If your loved one is injured in an accident or a shooting, you need not hesitate from rushing them to the nearest hospital out of fear of the police.
The Sindh government’s new bill, which was passed by the provincial assembly on0 Friday, binds private health facilities to treat all patients without waiting for police clearance.
The Sindh Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2014 states that police officials cannot interrupt or interfere in medical treatment, unless they have the written permission of the hospital in-charge. “Such permission cannot be given unless it is absolutely necessary for an ongoing investigation,” the bill states.
The bill was presented by the parliamentary affairs minister, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, and was passed unanimously by the legislators. “In emergency cases, the doctors wait for the consent of the police, but the new law has done away with such necessities,” said Dr Mandhro. “If relatives are present, it would be preferable that the treatment may be carried out with their consent.”
The law also decrees the hospital administration to register the name, proper address and identification details of the person who brings the injured to the hospital. Meanwhile, the injured may not be shifted from the hospital until their condition is stable or the required treatment is not available in the hospital.
Nisar Ali Shah, a senior medico-legal officer at Civil Hospital, Karachi, said that they were already providing medical aid to patients in emergency cases. “Not just the government hospitals, even private institutions follow this practice,” he said. “There was, however, no proper law to regulate this practice and the injured persons bill is a welcome sign.”
Officially, there are nine government hospitals in Karachi where medico-legal facilities are supposed to be provided. Only three of these - Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital - offer such facilities at the moment. The rest of the government hospitals do not entertain patients in case of firing, road accidents, bomb blasts and other incidents. “The MLOs are appointed at these institutions but emergency facilities are not available at these hospitals,” explained a health department official.
Special development board
During a surprisingly productive day on Friday, the lawmakers also passed the ‘Sindh Special Development Board 2014’ even though the opposition members were upset that Dr Mandhro failed to provide copies of the bill ahead of the session. The board, headed by the chief minister, aims to undertake low-cost housing schemes, rehabilitate katchi abadis and slums and regulate multi-storey and high-rise buildings in the province.
The bill states that every katchi abadi and slum structure will be rehabilitated by providing an alternative apartment block, measuring 600 square feet and preferably in the same area. The board will appoint a developer to execute the project who will be compensated for his efforts and investment in the form of free land outside the slum area, where the builder can build a commercial project for public sale.
The bill further said that the developers will have to provide space for amenities, such as playgrounds, parks, schools and hospitals, etc, and ensure free education for the residents of the slums up to undergrad level. Apart from this, the developer of the project has to ensure the basic health insurance for a period of 10 years to the families who are relocated. On multi-storey and high-rise buildings, the bill said such buildings will be set up as per international standards.
Civil servants bill
The provincial assembly also passed the law to give status of civil servants to those government employees who have been transferred from the federal government after the 18th Amendment. After the promulgation of 18th Amendment, these employees have been working on deputation in various departments. Now, they will be considered as permanent civil servants.
The same reservations about not being able to see copies of the bill in advance were made by opposition members. “Since we have not read the bill how can we move any amendment to it,” pointed out Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi. The bill was also not part of Friday’s agenda. The treasury members insisted, however, that the legislation was in public interest and should be supported.
Meanwhile, two others bills - Consumer Protection Bill and Old-Age Benefit Bill - were introduced and referred to the standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs for feedback. Later, speaker Agha Siraj Durrani adjourned the session till Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2014.
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Does this mean doctors can treat injured people without the risk of medico legal implication. At present private hospitals are wary of treating such cases because the doctors can be called by courts for medical opinion, and the way courts function this may involve numerous futile attendances and adjournments and it can go on for years.
Its a good bill, I must say.As expected in motherland, things are not implemented but I pray some day some one's pain and suffering is reduced by this and we can save some one's life.I know how it is when you are rushing your loved ones to hospital just to save there life.
The people of K-P should appreciate these Buddhists to visit K-P and pray for peace in their ancient monastery, K-P has these treasures and should be taken care of and encourage other Buddhists to visit these sites. It is a win win situation for every one. Thank you ET for bringing for publishing this story.
This room is less assembly hall rather is looks like UN assembly. People don't have and our legislator circling on chairs and doing nothing.