Neglecting duties: Locals protest uncaring attitude of doctors

Demand transfer of gynaecologists for refusing to admit pregnant woman.

HARIPUR:

A large number of people held a protest against the apathetic attitude of gynaecologists and medical officers on Friday, for refusing to admit a pregnant woman whose case was ‘complicated’.

The protesters, including students, blocked the Grand Trunk (GT) Road for over an hour, demanding disciplinary action against doctors of Women and Children Hospital (WCH).

Students from Post-graduate College for Men Haripur were joined by local residents. They lit fires and chanted slogans against the hospital administration, demanding the immediate transfer of the medical superintendent and gynaecologists .

Addressing the protesters, PPP MPA Dr Faiza Rasheed said that the woman, who was forced to deliver a baby in an ambulance, had exposed the doctors’ attitude. She said she had raised her voice against the doctors in the provincial assembly but due to their influence, no steps have been taken to remedy the situation.

She accused the doctors of running private clinics and neglecting their duties in government hospitals and referring patients to Abbottabad. She also demanded an inquiry against District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Nawaz Khan, gynaecologists Dr Amir Takreem, Dr Irshad Begum and serving doctors with private practices.

Abdul Kafeel, a resident of Sera-i-Saleh, said that he took his wife to the hospital on Thursday evening after she complained of labour pains. However, Dr Takreem and Dr Irshad, the gynaecologists present, refused to admit her, saying her case was ‘complicated’.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.