Health minister transfers MS of DHQ

Pays surprise visit to the facility where eight newborn babies died recently

SAHIWAL: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid paid a surprised visit to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital where eight newborn babies died due to the lack of air-conditioning two weeks ago.

On the same day, the minister also transferred Medical Superintendent (MS)  Dr Shahid Nazir for his poor performance. During her visit, she observed that the air conditioning system was turned off and it was very hot in the wards. Later, the MS was transferred.

Speaking to the media, Dr Rashid said that she had received several complaints about the poor performance of the hospital’s administration. “Therefore, I visited myself to see the state of the hospital.

“The death of eight children at the paediatric ward of the hospital did not occur due to lack of air conditioning system. The children died due to their critical medical problems. I have received a complete report,” she pointed out. “I sent various teams to look into the matter and the teams confirmed that the deaths did not occur due to the lack of air conditioning.

Last week, the Punjab Health Department issued a letter, saying neither doctors nor the management of the hospital was responsible for the deaths of eight children. According to the department’s spokesperson, the media’s reports were baseless and the children did not die due to the non-functioning of the air conditioners.

Two weeks ago, eight children lost their lives in just 24 hours. Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid formed a team, led by Additional Secretary Health Rafaqat Ali, to look into the matter. The team visited the hospital and recorded statements of the facility’s staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2019.