SAHIWAL: Services of three medical officers of the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital were terminated for mishandling an emergency patient who died in the emergency ward two days ago (Oct 29).

The termination orders were issued “on administrative grounds” by the secretary of the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, following a direction from the Punjab chief minister who took notice of media reports.

The terminated doctors include Dr Fasil Umer, Dr Muhammad Luqman and Dr Hooria Nadeem.

The termination order said the patient who suffered a head injury was not managed “professionally” by the on-duty doctors, showing their “lackadaisical” approach.

In response, the local chapter of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) boycotted OPD services for two hours in protest, claiming the fault lay with the Emergency CT Scan operator who demanded Rs800 fee and not with duty doctors who properly sent the patient for ultrasound and CT scan.

Dr Usama of the YDA alleged that Rs800 fee order was imposed by the medical superintendent, head of the radiology department and SMC principal.

Reports state that Rescue 1122 brought Murtaza (32), a road accident victim, to the emergency at 6:43am on Oct 29. The doctors sent the injured for a CT scan where the operator demanded Rs800 fee. The patient’s family did not have the amount.

The YDA says the CT scan in emergency cases should be free as per standard practice in all teaching hospitals in Punjab. He said ultrasound machine was located in a different building and caused delay in treatment in emergency.

The patient reportedly remained in the CT scan room for over an hour as the operator refused to proceed without the fee. By the time Murtaza was brought back to the emergency, he had expired.

As his family and relatives protested, media aired the happening.

The CM directed Commissioner Shoaib Iqbal to submit an inquiry report within 24 hours.

SMC Principal Prof Dr Imran Hasan submitted the report leading to the termination of the three doctors.

Dawn learnt that the YDA had given a call for a full-day OPD closure on Friday (today).

SUPPORT: Lawyer’s fraternity has expressed solidarity with schoolteachers defying Training Need Assessment (TNA) test introduced by the School Education Department across Punjab.

Sources said several bar associations in Punjab have passed resolutions in support of the Grand Teachers Alliance boycotting the test and demanded the Punjab government to stop “victimisation of schoolteachers.

Khalid Nazir Wattoo, Provincial Secretary of SED, told Dawn that the action taken against teachers are not a form of victimisation or a violation of any citizen’s rights.

He said disciplinary actions under PEEDA are being taken against those who refused to obey government orders as government employees. He clarified that it is a “misconception” spread by “certain quarters” that TNA test results will lead to the expulsion of teachers from their government services.

He said the department has secured 10 international scholarships and that the top 10 teachers in the TNA tests across Punjab would be sent for higher-level training in the UK. However, he categorically stated, strict action, including salary suspension, would be taken if government orders are not obeyed by teachers.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024