Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has suspended several senior officials of Nishtar Hospital following an incident of HIV transmission among dialysis patients.
During her visit to the hospital, the chief minister ordered immediate suspension of Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Kazim, Head of Nephrology Department Dr Ghulam Abbas, Associate Professor Dr Poonam Khalid, Senior Registrar Dr Muhammad Qadeer and Dr Maliha Johar. Medical Officer Dr. Muhammad Alamgir and Head Nurse Naheed Parveen were also relieved of their duties.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz investigated the matter and met the vice chancellor of Nishtar Medical University, principal, department heads and other staff involved.
She reviewed reports and heard their accounts, uncovering a violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
It was revealed that during the inquiry that mandatory HIV and hepatitis screenings for dialysis patients, required every three months, were not conducted.
Disposable dialysis kits and dialysers were reused for multiple patients, exposing them to life-threatening infections.
It was also revealed that hospital staff sent samples to private laboratories in violation of official protocols.
Even after the detection of HIV in patients, the incident was concealed, highlighting a disregard for patient safety.
The chief minister expressed outrage at the failure of senior doctors to supervise the ward adequately, with some not visiting for weeks.
She called for the health secretary to initiate strict disciplinary action under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated, "We have allocated vast resources to healthcare, but such negligence was unacceptable. Patients come for treatment, not to leave with incurable diseases."
She emphasised the need for accountability and immediate reforms to prevent such incidents in future.
The chief minister ordered the installation of a PET scan machine in Multan to strengthen diagnostic facilities.
She also inspected the cardiology and other wards, ordering the immediate transfer of patients in critical condition to intensive care units when required.
She expressed dissatisfaction with the hospital's hygiene and cleanliness, instructing the staff to address the issues immediately.
During her visit, a sanitation worker complained about unpaid salaries, prompting the chief minister to ensure their timely disbursement.
She stressed that the government would not tolerate any negligence in healthcare services.
Senator Pervez Rasheed, Information Minister Uzma Zahid Bukhari, Special Assistant Sania Ashiq, the chief secretary, divisional commissioner, and regional police officer were also present.
Meanwhile, senior doctors of Nishtar Hospital Multan, including the MS, appeared before SSP (Operations) Kamran Amir Khan for an inquiry into the case wherein some patients had contracted HIV during dialysis.
Notifications of the suspension of seven officials were issued by the specialised healthcare and medical education secretary in the light of a departmental inquiry.
Police officials said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered the Multan CPO to conduct an inquiry and about 10 officials of Nishtar Hospital and Medical University had bene summoned on Saturday.
They included MS Dr Kazim, Nephrology Head Dr Ghulam Abbas, Dr Maliha, Dr Poonam, Dr Alamgir, Dr Qadeer, Head Nurse Naheed, Professor of Medicine Dr Abrar Ahmed, Purchase AMS Dr Jawad Ahmed Khan and Ward No.7 Dialysis Unit Assistant Professor Dr Abdul Khaliq. Police sources said the inquiry was in the preliminary stage.
Presiding over a meeting on the law and order, public and administrative affairs in Multan division, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the officials concerned to ensure measures to protect children from dog bites.
She was briefed on the progress on the Clean Punjab campaign.
Officials said outsourcing of sanitation services in 14 tehsils of the division had been completed, while the process was under way in six tehsils.
The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners and other officials to visit the villages to check the sanitation arrangements and prevent incidents of dog bite.
She also ordered effective measures to suppress criminal elements and protect the people.
The CM was informed that there had been a reduction in dengue cases in Multan.
During the anti-smog campaign in Multan, fines worth Rs4.4 million were imposed for violations and 229 brick kilns demolished for not following the SOPs.
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