Sudden inspection: CM dismayed over poor cleanliness at LGH

The chief minister also took notice of the doctors who were not wearing their white coats

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif made a surprise visit to Lahore General Hospital on Sunday.

According to a handout, the chief minister arrived at the hospital without prior intimation and reviewed medical facilities at the hospital.

The chief minister spoke to the patients and their families about treatment facilities being provided to them. They expressed satisfaction about medicine supply at the hospital, but complained about poor sanitation and delays in scheduling of urgent surgeries.

Some patients and their families requested the chief minister for financial assistance. He announced financial assistance for these patients and their families and issued instructions to the administration in this regard.

Sharif inspected several washrooms of the hospital and expressed dismay over poor cleanliness. He reprimanded the hospital administration over unsatisfactory hygiene and unclean bed sheets.

“It is the responsibility of the district administration officials to visit hospitals and monitor the conditions there,” he said.

Sharif also reprimanded the hospital staff on account of dirty walls and open switchboards in the hospital.

The chief minister also took notice of the additional medical superintendent and some other doctors who were not wearing their white coats.

“Doctors should wear their coats. It is a symbol of discipline and authority. It is unfortunate that Health Department’s instructions are being flouted with impunity,” he said.

“Patients must be able to differentiate between their doctors and order citizens,” he said.

The chief minister also ordered an inquiry into substandard construction of washrooms and dilapidated condition of some walls of the hospital.

He also took notice of complaints by some patients regarding delays in surgery and directed the hospital administration to send him a report in this regard.

Postgraduate Medical Institute Principal Khalid Mehmood and Medical Superintendent Niaz Ahmad were not present during the chief minister’s visit.

Later, when they reached the hospital, the chief minister reprimanded them over poor sanitation arrangements and directed them to improve the situation as soon as possible.

“If you visited the wards regularly and reviewed the conditions, this situation would not have arisen,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2016.