At loggerheads: Doctors threaten to protest DC’s alleged misconduct

HARIPUR:

Doctors Association Haripur (DAH) has threatened to go on strike if the provincial government does not transfer Haripur DC Tasleem Khan and order a judicial probe against him within 48 hours. Speaking to The Express Tribune, DAH President Dr Hasnain Raza Turabi said the decision was taken during a meeting of the association on Tuesday.

Tensions escalated between doctors and the district administration when the Haripur DC paid a surprise visit to the children’s ward of District Headquarters Teaching Hospital on December 21.

“The DC realised the doctor in charge had not taken a round of the ward,” he said. “This came as a surprise as it was nearly 11am when the DC visited the hospital and there were countless children at the facility who were critically ill.” According to Turabi, the DC summoned Dr Irshad Yusuf, the doctor incharge at the facility, and Medical Superintendent Dr Zakeem Khan Wazir, to enquire about delays in providing health care to minors. Yusuf alleged that the DC misbehaved with him and pulled his beard.

Ultimatum

The DC informed Hazara commissioner and health secretary and urged them to take action against the negligence shown towards patients.

Turabi said the medical superintendent and incharge raised the matter at the association’s general body meeting.

“The doctors decided to bring the matter to the attention of the commissioner, health secretary, chief secretary and IGP,” he said. “However, we did not receive a favourable response from them.”

Turabi added, “Another general body meeting was held on Tuesday. Members of the association condemned the DC’s behaviour.” According to the DAH president, the doctors threatened to go on strike within 48 hours if the provincial government failed to conduct an enquiry and transfer the DC from Haripur.

The other view

When contacted, the DC denied the allegations levelled against him by the doctor.

“I visited the paediatric ward of the hospital on a public complaint,” he said. “I reached the facility at 10:45am.”

According to Tasleem, the attendants told him the doctor had not visited the ward even though most children at the ward were critically ill.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2015.