PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a law to stop the police from interfering during the treatment of injured persons at the emergency departments of hospitals.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Injured Persons and Emergency (Medical Aid) Act, 2014 promises provision of medical treatment to the injured persons on priority basis.

Senior minister Shehram Khan Tarakai had tabled the bill in the house, where Speaker Asad Qaisar was in the chair.

The law will do away with the existing procedure under which the police create hurdles to the treatment of those, who have suffered injuries in road accidents, firing incidents and brawls, at hospitals while fulfilling medico-legal formalities.

The law says when an injured person is brought to a hospital, he or she will be provided with medical aid without delay and on priority basis.

“No police officer or official shall interrupt or interfere during the period an injured person is under treatment in a hospital except with the written permission of the in charge of the hospital.”

Under the law, whosoever violates this act, he or she will be punished by imprisonment which may extended to two years, or with fine not less than Rs10, 000, or with both, in addition to any other penalty. Half of the fine would be paid to injured person or his heirs.

The law says the injured will not be taken to the police station before necessary medical aid and treatment is given.

“The relevant police officer is bound to ensure that the injured person is treated in a hospital as provided in this act before any medico-legal procedure is undertaken.”

Now, police won’t interfere during stay of accident, firing victims at hospitals

Under the law, a person who on humanitarian basis, in particular in traffic accident cases, brings an injured person to a hospital will not be harassed and will be shown due respect and will be acknowledged for helping the injured person.

Currently, consent of relatives is not required in certain cases as doctors treat or operate on the injured person.

“Now, the doctors will not wait for the consent of relatives of the injured person but if the relatives of the injured person are present at the time of emergency, such treatment or operation may be carried out with the consent of such relatives.”

Also, the new law forbids the shifting of an injured person from one hospital to another unless the relevant doctor is of the opinion that the required treatment is not available at his/her hospital.

Speaking on the adjournment motion, ANP MPA Syed Jafar Shah drew the government’s attention towards non-payment of monthly stipend to the students of private medical colleges during house job.

He said every year, thousands of students of private medical colleges paid millions of rupees as tuition and other fees but they were not paid stipend during house job.

Senior minister Shehram Khan Tarakai agreed to the point and said by and large, students of private medical colleges were denied monthly stipend during house job.

He said the health department was in contact with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for action against such medical colleges.

The minister said private medical colleges, which didn’t pay stipend to students, could be de-recognised by the PMDC in line with the rules.

Speaker Asad Qaisar expressed displeasure at the absence of most administrative secretaries from the house and said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak should take action against absentees.

Also in the day, the house passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Appointment of Law Officers Bill 2014 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Bill 2014.

The speaker later adjourned the session until 2pm on Friday.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014