Govt indecisive over Nawaz Sharif's treatment

Medical board says health condition not life threatening

LAHORE:  

The government is still awaiting recommendation of the provincial health department regarding former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's treatment, despite recommendations of the specialised medical board comprising senior doctors which was formed on the instructions of the government, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The specialised medical board had on February 19 forwarded their recommendations to the Punjab Home Department, which was confirmed to the media by a board member, Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Prof Dr Arif Tajamul.

The report sent to the provincial home department, according to the senior doctor, declared Nawaz Sharif's condition as satisfactory. It refuted the claims made by his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), that his health situation was life threatening.

The report, however, suggested an angiography for the former premier. The board of doctors also reviewed his medical history before drafting their recommendations for the government.

After receiving the recommendations of the board, the Punjab Home Department forwarded them to the Punjab Health Department to seek their opinion. According to the concerned home department official, the recommendations of the medical board were not clear enough for the department to arrive at any conclusion.

He said the board declared Nawaz Sharif situation to be under no life threat, but mentioned the need for cardiac cathertisation with certain prerequisites. He said the same had been forwarded to the health department for their opinion, and that they were waiting for it.

On the other hand, the medical superintendent (MS) at Jinnah Hospital stated that doctors have given straightforward recommendations to the best of their knowledge and experience, while the decision for further treatment and course of action lies with the home department.

Nawaz Sharif's personal physician Dr Adnan, while speaking to the media, also denied rumors that his patient had refused medical treatment. He said there was no chance of refusal as he hadn't been offered treatment by the government. He added that hospital authorities were also waiting for government instructions.

Responding to a question, he said that the government and principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College would be responsible if anything were to happen to Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif also visited Nawaz Sharif at Jinnah Hospital on Friday.  Being selective in responding to queries from the media, Shehbaz Sharif condemned the arrest of Sindh Assembly speaker, but did not comment about Nawaz Sharif treatment or his health. Maryam Nawaz, meanwhile, refused to answer any questions.

A senior official of the Punjab Home Department said that Nawaz Sharif is a leader of big stature and no one – including medical boards, home department and the provincial government – wants to take responsibility of anything. He added that the government was being circumspect in handling the matter as there was no urgency in it.

Thrice-elected former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was shifted to Jinnah Hospital from Kot Lakhpat prison on February 15 – the second time in the month that he has been moved to a hospital.

Earlier, he was moved to Service Hospital on February 2 after a special medial board recommended that he needed a multidisciplinary health facility for multiple checkups. However, Nawaz refused to get any further checkups after only three days and insisted on being shifted back to jail.

Subsequently, on February 7, after staying in Services Hospital for five days, he was shifted back to Kot Lakhpat Jail.

Just two days after his return behind bars on his own demand, his personal physician wrote to the Home Department, requesting the government to take into consideration the recommendations of the medical board, which had suggested shifting Nawaz Sharif to a cardiac facility.

In view of that request filed by Dr Adnan, the government shifted Nawaz Sharif to Jinnah Hospital.