Lapse? Security concerns after PIMS chief ‘threatened’

Dr Mahmood had filed FIR last week that MCH chief allegedly threatened him

ISLAMABAD: Despite taking additional measures, the largest tertiary care hospital in the federal capital has been unable to enhance security with at least three incidents involving hospital staff reported in recent months.

The most recent incident allegedly involved the senior most doctor of the hospital being threatened.

A few months ago, reports surfaced of an unidentified gunman who had barged into the doctor’s room and had attempted to harass a lady doctor while she was on night duty at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). After the incident, the head of the hospital Dr Raja Amjad Mahmood called a meeting of the security committee and had directed them to ensure strict internal security of the hospital.

Following those orders, the hospital’s security committee decided to install around 20 to 25 additional closed circuit television (CCTV) security cameras in all wards of the facility.

The committee also decided to raise a rapid response force which would patrol the wards and grounds of the hospital to stop intruders from gaining access to wards. It was decided to put up the numbers of the rapid response force members across the hospital to allow staff to quickly contact them if an incident takes place.

In this regard, telephones will be installed in every ward.

It was further decided that security outside Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the emergency wards would be beefed up by deploying two to three additional guards.

Moreover, digital locks will be installed on the doors of rooms for lady doctors and nurses.

Further, unauthorised people will not be allowed to enter wards without showing requisite security passes. Anyone found inside the ward wandering aimlessly without a security pass or not tending to a patient will be immediately handed over to the police.

Access to all wards will be closed after 11 pm. If anyone wishes to enter the operation theatres, they will have to first show any documentary identification.

Despite the measures taken, that incident was followed by another one where a female pharmacist was slapped by a man. The man, though, was booked.

The latest incident took place last week when Dr Mahmood filed a first information report (FIR) with the Karachi Company police claiming that the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) Director Dr Muthahir Shah threatened to kill him.

In the FIR, Dr Mahmood claimed that Dr Shah came to his office last week and allegedly threatened to kill him. The Pims chief further claimed that the MCH chief chased him and threatened him in a phone call as well.

He said that he had filed a complaint with the inspector general of police against Dr Shah to seek protection from the police.

Despite multiple attempts, Dr Shah could not be contacted for his stance on the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2019.