‘Nishter Hospital DMS suspended over non-serious attitude’

MPA says action had nothing to do with the superintendent not following protocol

MULTAN: The Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) of Nishtar Hospital was suspended due to his non-serious attitude towards patients, not over a protocol issue, said MPA Sabeen Gul.

She was addressing a press conference at Multan Press Club on Friday.

"Did I call the doctors at home? Did I demand the doctors check my daughter first? Nothing of that sort happened. It is my right to ask why such a campaign was running against me on TV channels and social media platforms."

The MPA explained that on July 4, 2019, she had gone to the medical superintendent for the checkup of her daughter as she suspected the latter may have been infected by dengue.

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The MS sent her to the OPD with DMS Dr Shahid to accompany her. “Dr Shahid seemed unhappy, but reluctantly accompanied me to the OPD. “However, it was found that one Dr Sadia was not available there.”

She added she went to Dr Sadia's office and waited outside for her turn for 15 minutes. Then, after seeking permission, the MPA entered the office where no patient was present and Dr Sadia was talking to two women.

Gul said she took the reference of the MS and also introduced herself, but the doctor told her to leave. Meanwhile, DMS Dr Shahid entered the office and supported Dr Sadia's move to make the patient leave her office.

The MPA said that she then returned to the office of the MS, along with her ailing daughter, and complained of the doctors' attitude.

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"Was waiting outside for my turn was my protocol? Was entering doctor's office with prior permission my protocol? It happened three months ago,” she said. Gul stated that no doctor was transferred or suspended then at the time. “I followed rules and regulations and submitted a privilege motion in the Punjab Assembly which was my right."

The committee, after hearing her complaint, recommended the suspension of the DMS till the time inquiry proceedings were completed, she said. Gul added she never influenced the committee in any way and merely presented her stance.

PTI Women’s Wing leaders Gulshan Waraich, Ghazal Siddiqui, Ismat Jabeen and Sadia Bhutta accompanied the MPA on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2019.