Doctors up in arms over DCO’s Eid Day trip

DCO says he had found nothing to complain about

FAISALABAD: DCO Salman Ghani visited the DHQ Hospital and Allied Hospital on Eid Day to check if the staff members were on duty and that patients were being taken care of.

He found nothing to complain about, but the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and Medical Teachers’ Association (MTA) did. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the two associations condemned the DCO’s visit to the hospitals to “check the attendance and presence of doctors”, calling it “an insult to doctors and faculty”.



PMA general secretary Muhammad Irfan and MTA general secretary Khurram Sohail Raja issued the statement saying that the DCO’s visit to hospitals on Eid Day gave the message that he had no confidence in the principals of medical colleges and the medical superintendents of the hospitals.

“Our seniors are supposed to keep a check on us and to ask after patients at the hospital,” the statement says. “Hospitals should not be run by the civil service lot who know nothing about the medical field and its issues.”

The DCO’s visit was not taken kindly by most of the doctors at the hospital. Many felt that the DCO had not gone through the proper channel to visit the hospital.

“This just shows the nonsensical attitude of the bureaucracy towards doctors…the DCO should have contacted the Punjab Medical College principal before visiting Allied Hospital – as the chief executive of the Allied Hospital and the DHQ Hospital…the DCO should have informed him before visiting the hospitals,” said Khalid Dogar, a doctor at Allied Hospital. He said this showed interference on the DCO’s part and did not portend well. “If these trips get frequent, I’m afraid the quality of medical care will deteriorate.”

Dr Abdul Basit of Allied Hospital used strong words to condemn the DCO’s visit. “Why should hospitals not shut down for one day? This is not Mayo Hospital…this is the PMC.

If the PMC had told a house officer to take a shoe to the DCO’s head, he would not dare visit the hospital again…PMC zindabad!”



However, some doctors felt that the DCO’s visit provided an occasion for reflection. “This is bound to happen…it is because of our behaviour and attitude that this [trip] happened.”

Dr Tariq Hassan Chaudhry of the PMC said this was bound to happen “if the principal is weak”.

The DCO appeared taken aback at the doctors’ backlash. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Ghani said that he respected the doctors’ opinion but “I did nothing wrong”.  He said it was his duty, and every citizen’s duty, to keep a check on whether patients were given satisfactory medical treatment. “I believe it is everyone’s right to see if doctors and paramedics are available.”

He said in the past, the city administration has had to deal with law and order situations owing to absence of medical staff at public hospitals. “Being vigilant is no crime.” He said that he had only wanted to see “if everything was okay at the hospitals on Eid”.

The DCO said he had found nothing to complain about at either hospital. “The patients were being looked after properly…there was sufficient strength of doctors and paramedic staff on duty even though when I arrived, their shift was almost over.”

He said that he had spoken to the staff there and had appreciated the arrangements they had made. “The patients I spoke to were also satisfied with the treatment…there wasn’t a single complaint. I thought I had had a pleasant time there.”

Ghani dismissed the idea that he was trying to undermine the doctors and hospital authorities. “We have nothing to lose from collaborating and facilitating each other.”

He insisted that this was a routine visit. “I have no axe to grind with the doctors’ community. They have my utmost respect.”

The DCO also discussed his trip to the DHQ Hospital where he found everything in apple pie order.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2016.