Emergency situation: Action sought against ‘unfit’ Muzaffargarh doctor

EDO requests healthcare department to forcibly retire SMO

LAHORE: The Punjab government has left the people of Muzaffargarh and its surrounding areas at the mercy of a medical officer, who is allegedly mentally challenged and is said to have taken several lives in the past.

An official communiqué dated December 31, 2016 made available to The Express Tribune shows the Muzaffargarh Health executive district officer (EDO) has requested the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department to forcibly retire Dr Munir Hussain Bhatti on account of his serious illness or at least constitute a special medical board to determine his fitness.

The man is a Grade-18 senior medical officer (SMO) posted at the Muzaffarghar District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

Dr Munir has been suffering from primary polycythaemia vera along with brain haemorrhage and his mental state is out of order, states the letter to the Muzaffargarh district coordination officer (DCO). He is unfit to serve on any position both medically and physically.

Polycythaemia (Rubra) Vera, also known as primary polycythaemia vera, is a disorder where too many red cells are produced in the bone marrow, without any identifiable cause.

These cells accumulate in the bone marrow and in the blood stream where they increase the blood volume and cause the blood to become more viscous than normal. Although it can occur at any age, the disease usually affects older people, with most patients diagnosed over the age of 55 years.

On February 17, 2015, Dr Munir wrote to the government to constitute a medical board and invalidate him from government service due to his deteriorating health. The SMO had applied for the grant of medical docket for the formation of the medical board through Muzaffargarh DHQ Hospital medical superintendent.



While the office gave permission for the constitution of a medical board, Dr Munir did not appear before the district standing medical board and his case is still pending.

Private practice

Official documents also indicate Dr Munir has been running a private clinic in the Khangarh area.

Shafiq Qureshi, an area resident, told The Express Tribune that the doctor had been performing major surgeries at his clinic despite his unstable mental condition. He added there were dozens of mistreated victims in Khangarh, Muzaffargarh and surrounding areas and a few of them had submitted their complaints to the Chief Minister Office.

Shafiq claimed there were several criminal cases and inquiries pending against Dr Munir for wrong treatment of patients but no action had been taken. Punjab Secretary Primary and Secretary Health Ali Jan Khan said though his office had not received any complaint against Dr Munir, his department would check with the Muzaffargarh deputy commissioner and take necessary action.

When this correspondent tried to contact Dr Munir, his brother answered the telephone. Dr Iqbal is also a senior medical officer at the same hospital where his brother is deputed. “Munir recently suffered a stroke that has badly affected his left side and he is unable to move without help and cannot take phone calls,” he said on the call.

Dr Iqbal confirmed Dr Munir has had some mental health problems in the past but he had recovered now. He added his brother had some property dispute in the area so people were spreading rumours about his health.

Action required

In the official communiqué, the Muzaffargarh Health EDO stated that the Punjab Healthcare Commission in Lahore had received a complaint against Dr Munir on which the medical superintendent of Muzaffarghar DHQ Hospital directed the doctor to provide the required evidence to the commission.

The order was never complied with by the respondent and the superintendent ordered necessary action against the SMO on December 19, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2017.