Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif suspended Mayo Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Faisal Masood and CEO Professor Ahsan Nouman during a surprise visit on Thursday over complaints against the administration over poor treatment facilities.
The CM visited various departments of the hospital and met patients who complained about unavailability of medicines and mismanagement. She immediately suspended the MS and said he should be thankful because he had not been arrested. Provincial Specialised Healthcare Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and senior health officials accompanied the chief minister during the visit.
The Mayo Hospital, considered one of the top healthcare facilities of the province, had been facing complaints of poor arrangements I recent months. A lift in the hospital had also collapsed last week, leaving 10 nursing staffers injured. Initial inquiry indicated that mismanagement on the part of the company responsible and the hospital administration had caused the accident.
According to sources in the health authorities, the chief minister decided to pay a surprise to the hospital and meet patients to listen to their complaints.
The sources said she was annoyed after patients criticised the administration and she herself observed lack of cleanliness in the hospital.
The CM enquired about medicines, injections and equipment in the stores and wards. She visited the emergency, TB and chest, ICU, cardiology and other wards where patients complained of mismanagement.
She enquired about the mismanagement and facilities, after which she ordered the suspension of the MS over not getting satisfactory answers. She also criticised other administration officials of the facility.
She said the people visiting the hospital for treatment were suffering and their complaints were not being addressed, while the administration was ignorant of the conditions faced by the patients.
The chief minister convened an emergency meeting in the hospital and ordered a detailed inquiry into negligence in its affairs so that those responsible could be identified.
She issued instructions for ensuring 100 per cent free medicines and enquired about the construction and development plan of the hospital.
She also asked some patients about their health and issued instructions regarding their treatment.
Chairing another meeting, the chief minister ordered outsourcing of rural health centres across the province.
She said, "The health centres will be provided medical and diagnostic facilities at par with big hospitals. General surgery, gynaecology, diagnostics, medical tests and other facilities will also be made available."
She said the centres would be made initial referral points for the patients.
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