Doctors observe black day over PTI MPA’s misconduct
Lawmaker in Swat chided medical professional for failing to examine patient
President of Malgari Doctors Association addressing a press conference at PPC. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
The doctors’ associations observed a black day across the province on Saturday to raise a voice against the ill-treatment meted out to a doctor by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA in Swat a few days ago.
Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune, a large number of doctors vehemently opposed PTI MPA Fazal Hakeem’s behaviour with a doctor during a surprise visit to the accident and emergency department at Saidu Teaching Hospital.
A video that went viral showed the MPA exchanging hot words with Dr Jamil Khan, who works at the facility, after he failed to examine a patient due to unavailability of a thermometer.
“You don’t have a thermometer,” the MPA said in the video footage on Hakeem’s Facebook page. “Why are you sitting here? If you are a Khan [landlord] do your Khanism, don’t do labour work. You are a [miscreant].” The video also showed the MPA asking why a doctor was performing alternate duty without obtaining prior permission from his in charge. The police also accompanied the MPA, as per the footage.
“We have conveyed our concerns to PTI’s office-bearers and have also given a 48-hour deadline to resolve the issue,” Provincial Doctors Association President Dr Amir Taj told The Express Tribune. “If this does not happen, we will be compelled to take to the streets.”
He added Hakeem not only misbehaved with their community member but also uploaded a video on the internet.
According to Taj, they have asked the election commission to immediately suspend his membership since the MPA had insulted a doctor.
Taj added, “We observed a black day but also performed our duties. If our concerns are not resolved, we will protest against the MPA on roads from tomorrow (Monday).”
Meanwhile, MPA Fazal Hakeem from Swat was unavailable to comment on the matter despite repeated attempts to contact him. The MPA was busy in a meeting with Insaf Students Federation and Insaf Youth Wing in Swat.
Demanding action
A large number of doctors’ associations strongly condemned the PTI MPA’s conduct.
In a joint news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, representatives of various doctors’ associations, including Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) and Malgari Doctoran strongly condemned the harassment of Jamil. While addressing the journalists, Malgari Doctoran Central President Said Rehman said it was the prime responsibility of the government to provide medical equipment at government hospitals.
He added it was also the responsibility of the relevant MPA to check if equipment were properly supplied to medical facilities in his area.
“However, the MPA hid his failure and blamed the doctor,” he said. “A doctor’s prime duty is to check the patients not to provide equipment in hospitals.”
He informed that doctor’s community has decided to write a letter to the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, chief minister, chief secretary, health secretary and human rights organisations to take notice of the matter. He urged the police to register an FIR against the MPA and investigate the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2016.
The doctors’ associations observed a black day across the province on Saturday to raise a voice against the ill-treatment meted out to a doctor by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA in Swat a few days ago.
Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune, a large number of doctors vehemently opposed PTI MPA Fazal Hakeem’s behaviour with a doctor during a surprise visit to the accident and emergency department at Saidu Teaching Hospital.
A video that went viral showed the MPA exchanging hot words with Dr Jamil Khan, who works at the facility, after he failed to examine a patient due to unavailability of a thermometer.
“You don’t have a thermometer,” the MPA said in the video footage on Hakeem’s Facebook page. “Why are you sitting here? If you are a Khan [landlord] do your Khanism, don’t do labour work. You are a [miscreant].” The video also showed the MPA asking why a doctor was performing alternate duty without obtaining prior permission from his in charge. The police also accompanied the MPA, as per the footage.
“We have conveyed our concerns to PTI’s office-bearers and have also given a 48-hour deadline to resolve the issue,” Provincial Doctors Association President Dr Amir Taj told The Express Tribune. “If this does not happen, we will be compelled to take to the streets.”
He added Hakeem not only misbehaved with their community member but also uploaded a video on the internet.
According to Taj, they have asked the election commission to immediately suspend his membership since the MPA had insulted a doctor.
Taj added, “We observed a black day but also performed our duties. If our concerns are not resolved, we will protest against the MPA on roads from tomorrow (Monday).”
Meanwhile, MPA Fazal Hakeem from Swat was unavailable to comment on the matter despite repeated attempts to contact him. The MPA was busy in a meeting with Insaf Students Federation and Insaf Youth Wing in Swat.
Demanding action
A large number of doctors’ associations strongly condemned the PTI MPA’s conduct.
In a joint news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, representatives of various doctors’ associations, including Provincial Doctors Association (PDA) and Malgari Doctoran strongly condemned the harassment of Jamil. While addressing the journalists, Malgari Doctoran Central President Said Rehman said it was the prime responsibility of the government to provide medical equipment at government hospitals.
He added it was also the responsibility of the relevant MPA to check if equipment were properly supplied to medical facilities in his area.
“However, the MPA hid his failure and blamed the doctor,” he said. “A doctor’s prime duty is to check the patients not to provide equipment in hospitals.”
He informed that doctor’s community has decided to write a letter to the chief justice of the Peshawar High Court, chief minister, chief secretary, health secretary and human rights organisations to take notice of the matter. He urged the police to register an FIR against the MPA and investigate the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2016.