BBH, HFH cases: Probe findings being swept under carpet

Hospital administrations fail to share details of inquiries.

RAWALPINDI:

The manner in which patients’ complaints are dealt with determines the seriousness and sensitivity of the hospital administration towards such issues.

The administrations at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) conveniently sweep findings of almost every inquiry under the carpet for unexplained reasons.

Shoaib Khadim, 24, who had sustained bullet wounds during a robbery on Dhamyal Chakri Road on February 19, burnt his three fingers of his hand during a surgery at the BBH due to alleged negligence of doctors and nursing staff.

According to the patient and his family members, Khadim came in contact with a heater (blower) during the surgery and burnt his fingers.

Upon a complaint by the patient’s attendants, the Medical Superintendent formed an inquiry committee. The committee could not complete the inquiry.

Last Friday, MS Dr Asif Qadir Mir said the inquiry has been completed but he has not received it yet. Contrary to his claim, a doctor at the hospital requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune that a doctor guilty of negligence has already been suspended.

He added that the hospital administration was not sharing details and disclosing the doctor’s name to avoid embarrassment and fear of reprisal from the aggrieved family and a possible action from the government.

Despite repeated attempts, the MS could not be reached for comments.

Similarly, no progress has been seen into inquiries of a theft case at HFH and supply of expired drug to the same hospital by a pharmaceutical firm.

The administration had constituted inquiry committees into both the cases but no headway has been made so far.

Interestingly, instead of destroying the expired medicines, they were sold to the medical stores outside the hospital allegedly by senior doctors.

Hospital sources told The Express Tribune that an inquiry committee held some senior doctors responsible for the sale of the drugs but it was rejected by administrator Dr Muhammad Umer who ordered a new committee to investigate the matter. However, it has yet to submit its findings.

Dr Umer could not be reached for comments till filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2014.