MS removed after YDA protest
The Punjab government has transferred the Lady Willingdon Hospital medical superintendent (MS) after protest by the Young Doctors Association (YDA) over the death of a lady doctor in a hostel.
A committee formed by the provincial government advised the MS after an inquiry to report to the specialised healthcare and medical education department for further orders.
On the other hand, the family of the deceased reportedly declined to pursue legal action, saying she had died due to natural causes. It also opposed the postmortem.
The inquiry committee formed by the Punjab government to look into the death of Lady Doctor Naseeem Ejaz in the hospital's hostel last week issued a notification on Wednesday of transferring MS Dr Sabahat Habib with immediate effect and asking her to report to the department.
After the death Dr Ejaz, a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan, the YDA along with the Young Nurses Association had started protest against the MS and also allegedly attacked her office.
The YDA closed the outpatient departments (OPD) of the hospital, launched daily protest and also levelled allegations against the MS in a press conference.
The association's representatives demanded action against the MS, accusing her of being responsible for the death of the doctor.
They warned the government of protest across the province if stern action was not taken against the MS.
The Punjab government formed the inquiry committee under the supervision of senior officials of the specialised healthcare department after the YDA protest.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Sabahat Habib said the lady doctor was on leave and had died in her hostel room. According to her family, she was suffering from a heart problem.
"Her family members did not protest or say anything but it is disheartening that some elements resorted to propaganda and also misbehaved with me after barging into my office," she lamented. She said the inquiry committee had not mentioned her mistake in the notification.
She asked how the health system would be run if the MS was replaced on the pressure of some elements. She said pressure groups had forced her to leave the charge over false allegations.
A leader of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said the government had transferred the MS on the pressure of the YDA, although the family of the deceased was saying that her death was natural and stated before a magistrate that it did not want any legal action.
He said no wrongdoing by the MS had been mentioned in the notification, nor any reason for the action explained. He said such moves would make it difficult for anyone serving as MS to run a hospital in the presence of pressure groups.
The PMA office-bearer said the doctors would contact the provincial secretary concerned to ascertain the reason of the action against the MS who had not been declared guilty.
Time and again Young Doctors Association have been protesting and boycotting OPDs to press the authorities for their demands.
On April1, the YDA lamented that around a week has passed but no one was held accountable for the mysterious death of a lady doctor at the Lady Willingdon Hospital.
Talking to the media, the YDA leaders said neither the inquiry report in this regard was made public nor the senior medics of the hospital were punished.
Giving an ultimatum of 48 hours, they warned to extend the scope of their agitation to other hospitals of the provincial capital if their demands were not addressed during the given time.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2023.