SHC bans use of mobile phones by doctors, paramedics at Liaquat University Hospital

Order comes after newborn was stolen from the hospital on October 10

HYDERABAD: In light of an inspection report filed by a court official, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has banned the use of mobile phones by doctors and paramedics at Liaquat University Hospital (LUH).

A bench, comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Mohammad Iqbal Maher, also ordered on Wednesday the health authorities to provide a list of the missing health facilities at LUH. “No mobile phones will be allowed and shall be used by doctors or staff during their duty hours,” reads the order, which was passed on a petition filed by Sakeenah Mallah, whose newborn was allegedly stolen from LUH on October 10. In the same petition, the SHC’s Hyderabad circuit bench on November 11 ordered the Sindh government to start an ambulance service across the province starting from Hyderabad in three months. LUH, which is a 1,400-bed tertiary care teaching hospital of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, comprises two hospitals - one in Hyderabad and the other in Jamshoro. The bench ordered the health secretary to take departmental action against the defiant doctors and staff while also referring the disobedience of any individual to the court.

The November 14 inspection report of the SHC’s deputy registrar, Syed Sabit Ali Shah, pointed out this distracting problem, which leaves patients unattended, as the doctors and staff are busy with their phones. “The gynaecology ward’s in-charge, Dr Zainab, was found absent and the present two lady doctors and nurses were busy on their cell phones, with no care for pre- and post-operated patients,” the inspection report reads.

Missing equipment

Taking notice of the availability of only one CT scan machine, which remains dysfunctional, the judges ordered the government to provide four CT scan machines to LUH, Hyderabad, and two to Jamshoro in three months. The bench further ordered the government to provide four MRI machines, two lithotripsy machines for the urology ward and six garbage collecting vehicles. LUH paid Rs10 million for laying of a six-inch-diameter water supply pipeline to the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and pays around Rs2 million in monthly utility bills. However, commercial and residential buildings are stealing water from LUH’s pipeline. The court gave one week to Wasa to remove the illegal connections.

The inspection report also pointed out that the burns ward is not equipped with air conditioning system and that some 250 sanitary workers and 100 janitorial staff are hired at Rs5,000 per month but the hospital remains unclean.

Meanwhile, the police informed the court that they are very close to nabbing the culprits who stole the newborn. The hearing will resume on December 7.  The court directed the deputy, additional and assistant registrars of the SHC to pay surprise weekly inspection visits to the LUH and submit reports on a regular basis.

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