NAROWAL, Jan 22: Misman-agement and negligence of DHQ Hospital staff risked the life of an expecting woman and later forced her to pay heavily at a private hospital to save her life a couple of days ago, Dawn has learnt.

Razia Bibi of Bubak village was shifted to the Emergency Ward of the DHQ Hospital at around midnight between Saturday and Sunday (Jan 19-20) when she was bleeding profusely. She was later admitted to the Gynae Ward of the hospital with enrolment No 575, and woman medical officer Dr Imrana Imran was called to provide her medical treatment. Dr Imrana, however, never turned up for the next 18 hours, leaving Razia’s condition to worsen with every passing minute.

It was around 6pm on Sunday when an on-duty doctor, Dr Afzaal Ahmad, suggested her family to take her to his private hospital in the vicinity if they wanted saving her life.

As Razia’s condition was deteriorating with no signs of improvement, her family agreed to Dr Afzaal’s recommendation. He also promised that he would not charge any fee from her family.

Razia was taken to Dr Afzaal’s hospital where she was treated urgently. Later, she was handed over a Rs5,000 bill before leaving the private hospital. When her family protested, they were told that this was professional fee of a lady doctor who treated her. It was, however, revealed later that it was in fact a lady health visitor, Farhat Saeeda, who assisted Dr Afzaal in treating Razia.

Narrating the sordid tale to Dawn, Razia’s attendant Tariq alleged that when they arrived at the DHQ Hospital, there was complete darkness because of the ongoing loadshedding and on-duty staff asked him to bring at least 30 litres of oil to run the hospital’s sole electricity generator if they wanted emergency treatment.

He said they remained at the hospital for around 18 hours, but no lady doctor attended the patient. He said they left the hospital next day in the evening when Razia’s condition had become too critical. He said doctors and management of the hospital were minting money from patients.

Medical Superintendent Dr Qari Abbas told Dawn that no patient with name Razia Bibi had come to the hospital on Saturday night according to the hospital’s record. He showed his complete unawareness about the incident.

The hospital record, however, reveals that the patient had left the hospital without intimating the authorities concerned at sometime on Sunday afternoon.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Imrana, whose residence is also in the vicinity of the hospital, confirmed that the duty doctor had called her to examine Razia on Saturday night. But, she said, she had prescribed some tests of the patients whose reports were later presented for her perusal at her residence on Sunday on which she immediately advised injecting blood into the patient’s body.

The gynaecologist said the patient had left the hospital when she visited the hospital to examine her at around 4pm on Sunday.

Dr Afzaal’s cell phone was found switched-off.

Association of Human Rights Narowal Vice-President Mian Muhammad Rafique condemned the incident and urged the health department high-ups and District Coordination Officer Tahir Yousaf to take a notice of the incident and order stern action against the responsible.

— Correspondent