Punjab

Cardiac procedures come to standstill at Mayo Hospital

Government promises severe action would be taken if anyone suspended operation procedures at the Mayo Hospital

Ali Ousat January 24, 2017

PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: Patients looking for an angioplasty or cardiac-related procedures may well have to look to private facilities as doctors are reportedly on an “announced strike” at the Mayo Hospital.

According to records, the cardio ward of the medical facility has only conducted three procedures over the last 10 days or ever since the unregistered stents scam was unearthed. A source at the medical facility, requesting anonymity, said doctors at the Mayo Hospital were on an indefinite strike. He added professors at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore and Jinnah Hospital were also using delaying tactics.

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According to the Mayo hospital’s Cardio ward records, 54 major operations, including angioplasties, were conducted during the month of December. He said Mayo hospital cardio ward deals with hundreds of patients in the outpatient department and operation theaters, but now wears a deserted look.

“During normal days, doctors conduct three to four angioplasties in a day,” he added.

He added that since the FIA investigation found this illegal business through which billions were being minted, doctors were trying to save their colleagues’ skin and were on an unannounced strike.

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“The government-run hospitals normally charge Rs0.1 million rupees for an angioplasty, while private institutes can bill as much as Rs0.2 million for the same procedure,” he added.

When contacted, a health department spokesman, said severe action would be taken if anyone suspended operation procedures at the Mayo Hospital.

“We will ask question the chief executive and MS of the hospital. If found guilty, a strict departmental inquiry will take place” he assured. Despite several attempts, the chief executive and MS of the Mayo Hospital were not available for comment.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (1)

Hafiz | 7 years ago | Reply It's frightful how little research this paper does before publishing something. There is sufficient background information available on this that needs to be published alongside. The FIA is implementing drug registration laws while there was no infrastructure set up to register these stents. The population of Pakistan is riddled with coronary diseases and we have the FIA and the Health Department actively trying to shut down the few institutions that can actually make a difference.

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