Patients suffer due to govt-medics row
Over 20,000 people with Covid-19 symptoms visit govt hospitals daily
Representational Image PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
More than 20,000 suspected patients of Covid-19 are approaching Punjab government hospitals daily but their diagnosis and treatment is being affected due to a protracted row between the provincial authorities and the Grand Health Alliance over demands of the medical staff.
Sources said the Grand Health Alliance has been criticising the government of Punjab and the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, but the underprivileged patients suspected of suffering from coronavirus infection are being ignored by the doctors, nurses and paramedics in government hospitals.
Patients in some government hospitals complained that doctors did not come to the coronavirus isolation wards even after four days, alleging that they were facing discrimination.
In this regard, Young Doctors Association (YDA) President and Grand Health Alliance leader Dr Salman Haseeb Chaudhry said the apathy of the government has disappointed the more than 40,000 doctors and 80,000 paramedical staff serving in public hospitals.
“As a result, complaints of mistreatment of patients by doctors and paramedics are being received from some places,” he conceded.
However, he maintained that as the president of the YDA, he would not defend any doctor who found negligent in his professional services.
Chaudhry remarked that the government was still not providing any facility to medical professionals in government hospitals and even their monthly salaries were being deducted.
“Therefore, changes in attitudes are expected in such situations,” he added.
On the other hand, Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid said all the health professionals serving in government hospitals, who were on the front lines, were not only the heroes of the ongoing war against coronavirus but also like her children.
“Perhaps, no one else is aware of the difficulties faced by those medical professionals as much as we do,” she said.
“As far as the implementation of the Medical Teaching Intuitions (MTI) Act is concerned, it has also been done after regular consultation with the central representatives of the YDA,” said Dr Rashid.
She highlighted that the purpose of the act was not to pester anyone but to improve the service of public hospitals for the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2020.
More than 20,000 suspected patients of Covid-19 are approaching Punjab government hospitals daily but their diagnosis and treatment is being affected due to a protracted row between the provincial authorities and the Grand Health Alliance over demands of the medical staff.
Sources said the Grand Health Alliance has been criticising the government of Punjab and the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, but the underprivileged patients suspected of suffering from coronavirus infection are being ignored by the doctors, nurses and paramedics in government hospitals.
Patients in some government hospitals complained that doctors did not come to the coronavirus isolation wards even after four days, alleging that they were facing discrimination.
In this regard, Young Doctors Association (YDA) President and Grand Health Alliance leader Dr Salman Haseeb Chaudhry said the apathy of the government has disappointed the more than 40,000 doctors and 80,000 paramedical staff serving in public hospitals.
“As a result, complaints of mistreatment of patients by doctors and paramedics are being received from some places,” he conceded.
However, he maintained that as the president of the YDA, he would not defend any doctor who found negligent in his professional services.
Chaudhry remarked that the government was still not providing any facility to medical professionals in government hospitals and even their monthly salaries were being deducted.
“Therefore, changes in attitudes are expected in such situations,” he added.
On the other hand, Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid said all the health professionals serving in government hospitals, who were on the front lines, were not only the heroes of the ongoing war against coronavirus but also like her children.
“Perhaps, no one else is aware of the difficulties faced by those medical professionals as much as we do,” she said.
“As far as the implementation of the Medical Teaching Intuitions (MTI) Act is concerned, it has also been done after regular consultation with the central representatives of the YDA,” said Dr Rashid.
She highlighted that the purpose of the act was not to pester anyone but to improve the service of public hospitals for the people.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2020.