Protecting life savers: Health minister assures doctors of multi-pronged approach for security

The govt plans to hire private security companies for security at major hospitals.

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai assured doctors the government will make every effort to provide them security at public and private hospitals.

Addressing an event organised by the Health Employees Coordination Council (HECC) and Young Doctors Association (YDA) at Lady Reading Hospital on Monday, Yousafzai stated the government is committed to addressing problems faced by doctors, paramedics and nurses.



Commenting on the security of doctors, Yousafzai blamed “policies undertaken by previous governments,” which, he said, left every vulnerable, including traders, lawyers and politicians.

According to Yousafzai, security plans for hospitals will be included in the Project Cycle-1 (PC-1) on a priority basis. To improve healthcare, the government plans to give districts headquarters hospitals (DHH) autonomy which would help address their problems, he shared. The government also plans to seek services of private security companies to provide better security at major hospitals in the city.

A summary has also been sent to deputy commissioners to seal those private hospitals which have not made adequate arrangements for security.

In addition, Yousafzai shared, around 2,500 new police constables will be hired and equipped to provide better security in the city.

The health minister promised two Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) locaters will be installed in Peshawar and security will be beefed up in Dabgari Gardens for doctors. Dabgari Gardens has many of the city’s private clinics and hospitals, and has also witnessed violence against doctors. Unsuccessful attempts had been made to abduct Dr Shakir Hussain in June and Dr Abdul Hamid in October from the same area.

Commenting on kidnapped doctors – Dr Kamran and Dr Mujahid – Yousafzai claimed the matter is not within the provincial jurisdiction, but assured the K-P government will facilitate and cooperate with the federal government for their safe recovery.

YDA Provincial President Dr Alamgir Khan Yousafzai demanded an increase in the security deployed at hospitals. He pointed out Hayatabad Medical Complex, which houses 1,100 hospital beds, only has seven police officials for security.

“If doctors are not secure, how can they save the lives of others,” argued Alamgir.

Others in attendance included Peshawar CCPO Ijaz Ahmad, Teaching Staff Association Professor Dr Waqar Alam Khan, and HECC Provincial President Dr Musa Kaleem.

Administrative modalities

The health minister claimed his party’s government is the first in 62 years to have announced a service structure for doctors. The health department will properly implement the new structure from December 17, claimed Yousafzai.

He also announced the establishment of a new medical college in Peshawar to be name after the late former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Responding to a question on vacancies in DHHs, he said the health department has directed all district hospital administrations to send their vacancy records so new doctors can be appointed.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.