Inquiry ordered into death of infants at DHQ hospital

BAHAWALPUR:

The Health Department on Sunday ordered an official inquiry into the deaths of more than 50 infants at Bahawalnagar district headquarters (DHQ) hospital due to alleged negligence.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the health secretary to conduct an inquiry after parents of the deceased alleged that the hospital administration was responsible for the deaths.

The secretary has now constituted an inquiry committee, headed by the Bahawalpur commissioner, to investigate the allegations.

The committee has been asked to submit a report in 48 hours.

Bahawalpur Commissioner Javed Akbar visited the Bahawalnagar DHQ hospital’s emergency ward on Sunday.

He reprimanded the officials concerned for not opening the newly-completed emergency ward. The new block was completed two and a half years ago. However, it has not been made operational.

Akbar summoned the Bahawalpur buildings sub-engineer and the executive engineer and directed them to hand over the building to the Health Department within a week.

The commissioner also visited several development projects related to health in Bahawalnagar, including the Bahawalnagar Medical College.

The Rs1.4 billion project is being built on 30 acres of land. Work on the project would start after the approval of the Planning and Development Department.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2014.