OPD shut over medics’ suspension by CM

SARGODHA:

The outpatient department (OPD) of the Sargodha District Headquarters (DHQ) Teaching Hospital is shut because of protest by doctors and nurses against the suspension of their colleagues after the death of a patient during Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz's visit to the wards last month.

The hospital is the largestin the division, providing healthcare also to the citizens of Jhang, Mandi Bahauddin and other districts. More than 2,000 patients visit the hospital daily for treatment.

Chief Minister Hamza addressed a public meeting in the city on May 19 and paid a surprise visit to the hospital before the event.

When he went to the emergency room, a patient, Sughra Bibi, had died and her daughter was crying. The chief minister called her and was told about the death.

Chief Minister Hamza immediately ordered the suspension of staff nurse Farzana Batool and four doctors of the hospital --

Medical Specialists Dr Nasar Ranjha and Muhammad Khan, Dr Ahmed Moaz and House Officer Dr Irfan Ahmad over alleged negligence regarding treatment of the patient.

Protest against the suspension continues on the call of Pakistan Medical Association, Young Doctors Association, Nurses Association and Paramedical Staff Association.

The protest, which began on May 23, not only shut down OPDs but also included rallies by doctors and paramedics.

PMA leader Dr Sikandar Warraich claimed that the patient had remained admitted to a private hospital in the city for three days before being brought to the DHQ hospital. Her condition deteriorated and the staff referred her to the DHQ hospital.

Sughra Bibi was admitted to the hospital emergency room. The woman was suffering from heart and kidney ailment and she needed immediate dialysis.

The woman was taken for dialysis on the morning of May 19, where her condition worsened due to high blood pressure.

He dialysis was discontinued when her blood pressure suddenly rose and she was brought back to the emergency room, but she died, the doctors' leader said.

He said the chief minister had arrived at the hospital immediately after the incident, where he had ordered suspension of the doctors.

A special team from Faisalabad visited the hospital on May 20 for an inquiry into the matter and sent its report to the provincial health secretary and chief minister.

The protest campaign started on May 23. Talks started on May 27 between the protesting doctors and Sargodha Commissioner Dr Irshad Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner Imran Qureshi and health department officials, during which the protest was stopped for a week.

The PMA leader said an assurance had been held out during the talks for the reinstatement of some doctors.

However, the promise was not fulfilled in a week, after which a series of protests and strikes resumed on June 3, which is still continuing.

Thousands of patients who come to the hospital daily face severe problems due to doctors' protests.

Surgeries, CT scan, laboratory tests, X-ray and MRI have also been stopped, adding to the woes of the patients.

"We will end the strike if the government ends the suspension of the doctors even if r the inquiry against them continues," Dr Warraich said in reply to a question.

Doctors are attending to the emergency patients, including those needing surgery.

DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ghulam Shabbir told The Express Tribune that efforts were being made to resolve the issue soon. He said the hospital administration was doing its best to facilitate the patients.

"We are in touch with the health secretary and the Chief Minister's Office," the MS added.

Rana Amir, who had come from Satellite Town for his mother's check-up, said there was only one big government hospital in Sargodha and there were frequent strikes by doctors.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2022.