Across the province: Health department declares emergency at hospitals

Cancels leaves of all doctors, nurses and paramedical staff

LAHORE: The health department has declared an emergency at all government hospitals across the province, cancelling the leaves of all doctors and paramedical staff for Election Day.

The health department issued a notification on Monday, cancelling the leaves of all nurses, paramedical staff, and other employees. It advised medical superintendents of all district and tehsil headquarter hospitals to remain alert and ensure full attendance.

According to officials from the health department, the notification was issued to all 36 districts of Punjab.

The department also advised all major hospitals in big cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Chakwal, Gujrat, Narowal, Sialkot and Gujranwala to be ready for any mishap. They urged them to stock up on medicines and keep ambulances ready in the case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The notification also directed all the department heads and senior professors at the hospitals to be on duty until the end of the general elections.

In addition to this, many patients across the province were discharged in order to clear beds in wards.

“There will be space to accommodate an influx of patients at all major hospital. The department has prepared teams to monitor the situation,” said a senior official from the health department.

The health secretary and other senior officers at district and tehsil level will monitor the arrangements and ensure staff attendance. Further, a stock of medicines and ambulances will also be prepared, he added. It has also been advised that in case a member of staff is absent, an inquiry under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act (PEEDA) 2006 will be initiated.

Lahore Mayo Hospital, Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and others are ready for Election Day. A few days ago, the health secretary visited these hospitals and also discussed the arrangements made, the official maintained.

Meanwhile, at Mayo Hospital, operations scheduled to take place on July 25 have been postponed due to the emergency situation in lieu of the general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2018.