‘Unhealthy’ hometown: Minister suspends three doctors over absence

Shaukat Yousafzai’s surprise visit to THQ Hospital, Bisham reveals closed wards.

SHANGLA: The dismal state of the province’s health affairs became clear to Minister for Health Shaukat Yousafzai during an inspection visit to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Bisham on Wednesday when he found all the wards and operation theatres closed and doctors absent.

Yousafzai was visiting the hospital in his hometown along with local elders at around 11:30am, but found the outpatient department (OPD) and wards closed and Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Sohail missing along with other doctors.

Expressing concern over the lack of medical professionals and closure of essential facilities, the minister suspended three doctors who were stated to be running their private clinics during hospital hours. A show-cause notice was also sent to Sohail for his negligence in closing the OPD before due time.



Dr Behar Karam, Dr Bakth Buland and Dr Munawar were allegedly directing patients to visit them in their private clinics and were thus suspended. Talking to journalists during his inspection, Yousafzai said doctors should avoid running private clinics during duty hours.

“They are paid to serve the people and not make extra bucks through private clinics at the people’s cost,” he said. “We cannot tolerate any kind of laxity in serving the people,” said Yousafzai, adding an inquiry has been launched against the three doctors and strict action will be taken against them if found guilty.

“We will soon bring a reformation in the province’s health sector and appoint hundreds of new doctors,” he promised.

Talking to The Express Tribune, one of the suspended doctors, Munawar, claimed he was present on duty during the inspection and was suspended over a personal grudge. He maintained the health minister has no authority to suspend the doctors as it is the health secretary’s prerogative. “Yousafzai should carry out other duties rather than suspending doctors.”

He lashed out at the government and said doctors were performing their duties diligently, adding they will boycott their jobs if they are restrained from doing their work professionally.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2014.