In need of intensive care: Damaged ICU at Holy Family to remain closed
Mob attack cost around Rs4 million loss to hospital.
RAWALPINDI:
The damaged intensive care unit (ICU) at Holy Family Hospital cannot be made fully functional in the near future. An angry mob had smashed the costly equipment in the unit on May 13 after a patient lost his life due to a heart attack.
The crowd that had gathered there cited doctors’ negligence as the reason for the patient’s death and turned violent. After the incident, a four member committee formed by the principal of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) estimated a damage of Rs4 million.
Some machines can be repaired and used temporarily, but even then, the hospital authorities will have to bear a loss of Rs1.8 million. In addition to that, the damage done to the building and furniture is estimated at up to Rs0.4 million, said an official in the administration of the Holy Family Hospital.
A visit to the damaged ICU revealed that that the mob completely destroyed the facility.
The medical equipment that was damaged includes ECG machines, infusion pumps, cardiac machines, computers, oxygen slander, BP apparatus, bi-op apparatus and ventilators.
An official asking for anonymity said for the last many years, the provincial government had imposed a ban on fresh purchasing but in this case some extraordinary steps could be taken to make up for the damage.
When contacted, HFH spokesperson Dr Raja Shafique Sarwar said, the government had directed the hospital administration to gauge the damage and the necessary equipment would soon be provided.
The doctor assured all out efforts would be carried out to provide the equipment to the ICU.
Meanwhile, in a meeting the administration of the HFH assured the Young Doctors Association YDA that all steps were being taken to tighten up security after the incident.
The young lady doctors had resumed their work after they stopped coming to the hospital in the wake of the violent attack on the doctors.
Medical Superintendent HFH Dr Fiaz Ahmed and his administration informed the young doctors that iron bar gates were being installed at all entries to the CCU, ICU and in-door patient wards.
The MS said they had written a fresh letter to the district police head to deploy more police force in the hospital to control such incidents in future.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2011.
The damaged intensive care unit (ICU) at Holy Family Hospital cannot be made fully functional in the near future. An angry mob had smashed the costly equipment in the unit on May 13 after a patient lost his life due to a heart attack.
The crowd that had gathered there cited doctors’ negligence as the reason for the patient’s death and turned violent. After the incident, a four member committee formed by the principal of Rawalpindi Medical College (RMC) estimated a damage of Rs4 million.
Some machines can be repaired and used temporarily, but even then, the hospital authorities will have to bear a loss of Rs1.8 million. In addition to that, the damage done to the building and furniture is estimated at up to Rs0.4 million, said an official in the administration of the Holy Family Hospital.
A visit to the damaged ICU revealed that that the mob completely destroyed the facility.
The medical equipment that was damaged includes ECG machines, infusion pumps, cardiac machines, computers, oxygen slander, BP apparatus, bi-op apparatus and ventilators.
An official asking for anonymity said for the last many years, the provincial government had imposed a ban on fresh purchasing but in this case some extraordinary steps could be taken to make up for the damage.
When contacted, HFH spokesperson Dr Raja Shafique Sarwar said, the government had directed the hospital administration to gauge the damage and the necessary equipment would soon be provided.
The doctor assured all out efforts would be carried out to provide the equipment to the ICU.
Meanwhile, in a meeting the administration of the HFH assured the Young Doctors Association YDA that all steps were being taken to tighten up security after the incident.
The young lady doctors had resumed their work after they stopped coming to the hospital in the wake of the violent attack on the doctors.
Medical Superintendent HFH Dr Fiaz Ahmed and his administration informed the young doctors that iron bar gates were being installed at all entries to the CCU, ICU and in-door patient wards.
The MS said they had written a fresh letter to the district police head to deploy more police force in the hospital to control such incidents in future.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2011.