LARKANA: Doctors and paramedics at the Chandka Medical College Hospital (City Block) observed a two-hour token boycott of OPD assignments and held a protest on Saturday against police for not quashing an FIR against its medical superintendent and seven doctors.

The FIR was lodged by a lawyer, Advocate Abdul Sattar Hulio, who stated that his 19-year-old daughter, Amar Sindhu, died during treatment on April 12, and alleged that negligence on the part of the nominated suspects and unavailability of ventilator at the hospital had led to her death.

Rejecting the allegation, doctors and paramedics did their best to get the FIR quashed but in vain. On Saturday, almost after a month of hectic efforts, they decided to launch a protest campaign against the police. Leaders and members of the Pakistan Medical Association, Young Doctors Association, Young Consultants Association and paramedics’ organisation held protest at the CMCH during the OPD boycott period and condemned police for inaction.

Representatives of PMA and other bodies of doctors had already held meetings with the DC, DIG and SSP and briefed them about the case and the unrest among their members.

Addressing the protesters, President-elect of Larkana PMA Prof Dr Sikandar Mughal said that the association did not receive satisfactory response from the deputy commissioner and other officials during their meetings. It was quite discouraging, he said, and announced that from Monday (May 13), doctors in the light of their joint action committee’s decision, would boycott duties at all OPDs of CMCH and its attached hospitals.

“We have, however, decided to keep open the doors for negotiations to resolve the issue,” Dr Mughal said.

Other leaders of the affected organisations also condemned registration of the FIR at the Civil Lines police station and pointed out that it had generated a wave of resentment among doctors and paramedics.

They urged the chief minister, health minister and other authorities to intervene.

Lawyers insist on action

Meanwhile, the lawyer fraternity of Larkana, under the banner of ‘Lawyers Joint Action Forum’, continued their protest over inaction by police despite registration of the FIR.

Rafiq Abro, Aqeel Ahmed Bhutto, Advocate Rauf Korai and others lawyers flayed the “lethargy” being shown by police, and called for immediate arrest of the suspects.

The forum’s Vice President, Advocate Rauf Korai, told Dawn that the district bar was given time to come up with a clear stance on the issue, otherwise lawyers would boycott their duties from Tuesday and hold protests.

According to Advocate Abdul Sattar Hulio, his daughter, Amar Sindhu, was admitted to the emergency unit of CMCH on 12 April. He alleged that the hospital administration and doctors on duty did not pay due attention to her. Their negligence and unavailability of ventilator at the unit led to her death, he claimed.

He said police registered the FIR only after a strong protest by lawyers outside the SSP’s office.

Soon after the registration of the FIR on April 12, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) registrar wrote a letter to the Larkana SSP to inform him that the act of police was in contravention of the parameters of the Sindh Health Care Commission. Therefore. it should be cancelled, he stressed.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2024