Patients’ woes: 17 medical representatives held for ‘interference’

Following the arrest of their colleagues, dozens of medical reps protested outside the DC office

SUKKUR: Scores of representatives of pharmaceutical companies protested outside the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office in Jacobabad on Monday following the arrest of 17 medical reps by the police from Civil hospital earlier in the day.

On Monday morning, Jacobabad DC Agha Shahnawaz Babar paid a surprise visit to Civil hospital where he found most doctors' offices occupied by representatives of various pharmaceutical companies while patients were waiting outside. Patients complained to the DC, saying this was a routine affair and they are frequently forced to wait long hours. As a result, the DC called in the police and ordered them to arrest all the medical reps for interference.

Police arrested 17 people while some managed to escape. Muhammad Aamir, Waheed Nawaz, Abid Ali, Muhammad Ibrahim, Sharjeel, Mudasar Qureshi, Zohaib Bhatti, Saleem Bhutto, Zulfiqar Ali and others were shifted to the police station.

Following the arrest of their colleagues, dozens of medical reps led by Riaz Bhutto, Iqbal Lashari and others gathered outside the DC office and shouted slogans against Babar. Later, talks were held between the DC and the office bearers of the 'Pharma League', during which the DC informed the medical reps that they are not allowed to visit the hospital before 1pm from now on to avoid patients' suffering. The medical reps said if the hospital management issues such notification, they will abide by it. Later, Civil hospital medical superintendent Shabbir Shaikh issued a notification after which the arrested men were released and the protest was called off.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2016.