The suspended director, among two other senior officials, of the largest teaching hospital in the provincial capital, have been held responsible for the shortage of oxygen at the facility earlier in the month resulting in the death of six novel coronavirus (Covid-19) patients.
This was disclosed in an inquiry report prepared by a high-powered inquiry committee of the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH). Based on the recommendations of the report, the hospital’s board took action. The chairman of the hospital’s board of governors (BoG), Dr Nadeem Khawar, along with its inquiry members, then submitted their report to the chief minister and the health secretary.
The report contained a charge sheet against Dr Tahir Khan, the former director of KTH. It further recommended repatriating him to his parent department apart from cancelling his contract as the hospital director.
An inquiry committee formed by the BoG also issued a charge sheet against former hospital directors Dr Zafar Afridi and Dr Nek Afridi for failing to perform their administrative duties during their respective tenures to address the issue.
They have been asked to submit a report within seven days.
Curiously, the board recommended that posts of their members should also be re-advertised.
The inquiry committee, formed by the board, had on December 21, submitted its report to the board, in light of which the BoG imposed major penalty under which show-cause notices were issued to Supply Chain Manager Ali Waqas, Biomedical Engineer Bilal Khan, Oxygen Plant Assistant Niamat Ali, Oxygen Gas Attendant Shahzad Akbar and they are asked to submit their replies within seven days.
It has further been recommended that the Human Resource Manager Yousaf Jamal and Facilities Manager Tahir Shahzad, whose contract expires on December 31, will not receive an extension.
Similarly, the inquiry found that AC Plant Helper Abdul Wahid was present on duty and hence exonerated.
The board warned Medical Director Prof Dr Amer Azhar and directed him to strengthen the early warning system in clinical wards and the intensive care units.
The board then implemented the recommendations contained in the inquiry report and subsequently submitted its resignation.
Meanwhile, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Kamran Bangash in a press statement said that the inquiry report of the KTH incident has been made public, as promised by the government, and responsibility has been fixed.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2020.
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