Four minors pass away due to alleged negligence at Karachi hospital
Two children lost their lives at the same hospital earlier in the week
PHOTO: EXPRESS NEWS SCREENSHOT
KARACHI:
Four children have lost their lives due to a lack of oxygen in incubators and ventilators at a hospital in Korangi area, Express News reported.
Earlier in the week, two children lost their lives at the privately-run Shah National Children Hospital. Parents claim doctors were not present at the hospital while staff treated the minors in question.
Further, Express News reported that family members of the deceased children have begun protesting outside the hospital. Rangers have also been called at site for security purposes. Roads leading up to the hospital have also reportedly been blocked as parents and residents of the area are resorting to violence at the hospital premises.
Parents have demanded that the hospital staff and doctors responsible for the incident be handed over to them. However, hospital staff, doctors and administration have reportedly already been evacuated from the hospital.
Residents of the area claim that many complaints have been lodged against the hospital previously but no action has been taken.
"The children were on incubators and apparently the power failure disrupted their oxygen supply resulting in the deaths of four children," senior police officer Nazir Mirbahar told AFP.
A father of one victim described how he had brought his three-month old daughter to hospital only the night before.
"She was actively playing and rejoicing when I brought her to the hospital because she was suffering from light fever," Aqeel Ahmed said.
Angry relatives stormed the hospital, ransacking equipment and blocking roads with burning tyres and boulders.
Governor Sindh Ishrat ul Ibad has taken notice of the incident and the health department has started an inquiry into the children's deaths and a report will be submitted to the provincial government within 24 hours.
"We cannot say right now how the deaths occurred but we have formed a two-member committee to probe into the matter," Dr Zafar Ejaz, a senior health official, told AFP.
Police said they had detained some of the hospital staff and were tracing the owner of the facility as part of their investigation.
"Cases of criminal negligence will be registered against the hospital management, if the parents press charges," Mirbahar said.
Four children have lost their lives due to a lack of oxygen in incubators and ventilators at a hospital in Korangi area, Express News reported.
Earlier in the week, two children lost their lives at the privately-run Shah National Children Hospital. Parents claim doctors were not present at the hospital while staff treated the minors in question.
Further, Express News reported that family members of the deceased children have begun protesting outside the hospital. Rangers have also been called at site for security purposes. Roads leading up to the hospital have also reportedly been blocked as parents and residents of the area are resorting to violence at the hospital premises.
Parents have demanded that the hospital staff and doctors responsible for the incident be handed over to them. However, hospital staff, doctors and administration have reportedly already been evacuated from the hospital.
Residents of the area claim that many complaints have been lodged against the hospital previously but no action has been taken.
"The children were on incubators and apparently the power failure disrupted their oxygen supply resulting in the deaths of four children," senior police officer Nazir Mirbahar told AFP.
A father of one victim described how he had brought his three-month old daughter to hospital only the night before.
"She was actively playing and rejoicing when I brought her to the hospital because she was suffering from light fever," Aqeel Ahmed said.
Angry relatives stormed the hospital, ransacking equipment and blocking roads with burning tyres and boulders.
Governor Sindh Ishrat ul Ibad has taken notice of the incident and the health department has started an inquiry into the children's deaths and a report will be submitted to the provincial government within 24 hours.
"We cannot say right now how the deaths occurred but we have formed a two-member committee to probe into the matter," Dr Zafar Ejaz, a senior health official, told AFP.
Police said they had detained some of the hospital staff and were tracing the owner of the facility as part of their investigation.
"Cases of criminal negligence will be registered against the hospital management, if the parents press charges," Mirbahar said.