Multan Nishtar Hospital OPD remains shut

Demand impartial inquiry of the incident at Sheikh Zayed Medical College

MULTAN: The doctors’ community continued their protest and stopped working after a female doctor was allegedly assaulted by a janitor at the Sheikh Zayed Medical College emergency ward in Rahim Yar Khan three days ago.

The OPD at Nishtar Hospital, Multan was shut down by the Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) team, Multan under the leadership Dr Faran Aslam. YDA Spokesperson Dr M Khizar Hayat said the protest was staged to in order to express solidarity with the female doctor and to protect the dignity of the white coat.



“YDA Multan has always believed on groundwork and has struggled to stand for what is right. All the doctors’ organisations are requested to join hands with YDA Multan for security legislation and service structure,” said YDA Chairman Dr Chaudhry Ateequr Rehman. Protestors demanded security for female doctors in hospitals. The protestors said the Punjab government has failed to provide security for the medical staff.

Meanwhile, an emergency session of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Multan was chaired by Dr Masood Hiraj. Doctors condemned the alleged sexual assault on the female medical officer at Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan. PMA demanded an impartial inquiry of the incident. Moreover, PMA demanded the Chief Justice of Pakistan take suo motu notice of the incident, suspend the negligent administration and rectify the security system of Nishtar Hospital, Multan on an emergency basis. The doctors also warned that if the demands were not met, they would continue their strike.

On the other hand, Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital Principal Dr Mubarak Ali Chauhdry and Medical Superintendent Dr Ghulam Rabbani were suspended over the charges of negligence in performing their duties under Section 6 of the Punjab Employees Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 (PEEDA).



Sheikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital Spokesperson Rana Ilyas Ahmad confirmed the suspension of the principal and the MS. He further said that Dr Kahalid Mehmood has been given the additional charge of MS.

Dr Shabbir Waracih, a member of YDA, alleged that MS Dr Ghulam Rabbani pressurised the victim into burying the matter.

Police said an FIR has been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2018.