Report delayed in view of missing evidence

The inquiry report into the death of three children was delayed as the hospital failed to produce any medical records.

FAISALABAD: The inquiry report sought by the chief minister into the death of three children was delayed after the Allied Hospital administration failed to produce any medical records regarding the same.

The children died due to the alleged negligence of the Health Department while administering vaccination drops. The EDO (Health) Dr Abdul Rasheed, heading the inquiry, told The Express Tribune that the children were being treated at the Allied Hospital before their death early Sunday morning.

However, the hospital administration did not have any records about the mishap or the cause of their sickness prior to admitting them, he said. “We can not file the report until the investigation is complete.”

The EDO said, “The women who administered the vaccination had no prior medical training.” He also pointed out that the batch number of the vaccination administered to the 18 children at Hajveri Colony was not mentioned.Five people, including the person who administered the vaccination, one lady health worker and two unidentified men are in police custody.

Three of the 18 children treated died early Sunday.  The others are under treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2010.