Suspended doctors swiftly replaced

LAHORE:

In addition to suspending several doctors over alleged negligence and violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) exposed by a hospital labour room video, the health authorities have banned the use of mobile phones during duty hours in clinical areas.

The new Medical Superinten-dent of Lady Willingdon Hospital, Dr Hina Munir Butt, said that restriction is aimed at preventing breach of patient privacy following the incident.

Authorities have moved swiftly to replace the suspended doctors with new appointments to maintain hospital operations.

Dr Hina Munir has been assigned additional charge as MS, while Gynaecology Professor Farzana Latif has been transferred from Nawaz Sharif Medical College. Similarly, Senior Registrar of Anaesthesia Dr Rabia Sarwar has been posted from the Services Hospital, alongside Dr Saba Qamar from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Dr Saeqa Yasmin from Services Hospital.

The newly appointed doctors have been directed to immediately assume charge.

Meanwhile, a notice has been issued by the Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department to summon a postgraduate trainee doctor from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to appear before a special secretary on April 1 for personal hearing.

The notice warns that failure to appear could result in an ex-parte decision.

However, Young Doctors Association (YDA) leaders have termed the actions "unfair and premature".

Speaking to the media at Lay Willingdon Hospital, Mayo Hospital YDA President Dr Ahmed Gujar said the doctors had been suspended without being given an opportunity to present their stance.

He argued that the video was nearly eight months old and did not disclose any patient's identity, questioning the basis of such severe action.

The leaders maintained that the doctors seen in the video were performing their duties responsibly and the issue had been exaggerated on social media.

They warned that a minor lapse should not be allowed to destroy professional careers built over years of training.

Addressing another issue, Punjab YDA leader Dr Shoaib Niazi apologised to journalists for remarks made in a clip, using the opportunity to highlight longstanding structural issues, including the absence of neonatal (nursery) units in key hospitals, stressing that such gaps affected patient care.

The association alleged that some suspended doctors were being restricted from speaking to the media.

The leaders also questioned the legality of suspending postgraduate training without following proper legal and administrative procedures.

Beyond the immediate controversy, doctors painted a troubling picture of systemic challenges in the healthcare sector.

They said the hospitals were operating under pressure with staff shortage and overwhelming patient loads. In some cases, surgeries are conducted simultaneously in an operation theatre.

They claimed that anaesthesia is sometimes being administered by underqualified personnel due to lack of trained staff.

The doctors also highlighted harsh working conditions, stating that many are forced to work up to 36 consecutive hours while salaries have remained stagnant for years. They warned that continued stress, lack of institutional support, and public criticism could lead to mass resignations, pushing the already fragile healthcare system toward collapse.

The issue of brain drain also surfaced prominently, with the YDA noting that an increasing number of doctors are leaving Pakistan for better pay and working conditions abroad.

They argued that instead of addressing systemic shortcomings, authorities often place the entire burden of failures on frontline medical staff.

Questioning the transparency of the inquiry, the association demanded that accountability should be applied fairly across all levels, including hospital administration. They also raised concerns about reports that doctors not present on duty at the time of the incident were among those suspended.

"Lady Willingdon Hospital is an important hospital for thousands of citizens.

A notification regarding a ban on cellphones has been issued and efforts are under way to streamline affairs at the hospital," said Dr Hina Butt.