Capital’s hospitals put on high alert

Most doctors have been provided with wireless sets to stay connected in case cell phone service is suspended: PIMS

ISLAMABAD: Major public hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were put on high alert on Friday and will remain that way for at least for a week to cater to any possible medical emergencies arising out of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest.

Hospital officials also said there was a visible drop the number of patients visiting outpatient departments (OPDs) since Thursday, after news of the blocking of major roads started circulating.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram said, “We did not receive any instruction from the government [to go on high alert], but considering the present situation in the twin cities, we took the initiative.”

He said most doctors have been provided with wireless sets to stay connected in case cell phone service is suspended.

Moreover, around 100 beds have been kept vacant, while an additional 300 blood bags and sufficient medicines have been stocked in the emergency department, said Prof Akram.

Meanwhile, Polyclinic spokesman Dr Imtiaz Hasan said, “For the last two to three days a 20 to 30 per cent drop has been seen in the number of elective surgeries.”

He believed that many patients were reluctant to come in for routine procedures out of fear of roadblocks or unrest in the capital.

When asked about elevated stress levels for common citizens, A senior doctor from Pims, who asked not to be named, told The Express Tribune that, “Dharnas, protests, and roadblocks are playing a major role in causing or increasing stress and depression levels among people.”

Amid such events, many people confine themselves to their homes, and parents worry about sending their children to school, which disturbs their routines, he added.

He further said that when hospitals are put on high alert, many patients are discharged before the completion of their treatment because the hospital administration wants to keep beds available for an emergency.

City open for business

The federal capital will remain open on November 2 and daily life will continue as usual, according to Islamabad’s mayor.

Sheikh Anser Aziz was speaking on Friday at a press conference, flanked by deputy mayors and union council chairmen, as he continued to insist that the city administration would not allow anybody to shut down the capital.

He said citizens should not worry as life will remain normal and no educational and other institutions would be closed. He said as protest is a constitutional right of the PTI, but its leadership should not tread on the constitutional rights of common citizens. He said that after getting orders from the Islamabad High Court, the city administration has given a place to PTI for their public meeting

He said the whole city, including traders, lawyers, and other residents were against the sit in because it would badly affect commerce in the city.

CADD minister reiterates

Earlier, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Tariq Fazal Chaudhary has said that hospitals and educational institutions will remain open in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Speaking at a student event, he said students are the future of the country and no political activities will be allowed to disrupt their routine.

The minister said education cannot be compromised for any political objective.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2016.