Doctors of public hospitals serve 48-hour

Islamabad
Infuriated consultants, young doctors, as well as the paramedical and administrative staff of PIMS, Polyclinic Hospital, National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) and CDA Hospital Monday articulated a set of clear and categorical demands which, unless met within the next 48 hours, would force them to widen the scope of their current token strike against the deadly attack on the departmental head of cardiology at PIMS Dr. Shahid Nawaz.
The demands were made during a joint protest demonstration, arranged with the participation of protesters representing all public sector hospitals of the federal territory. The protestors converged at PIMS and then marched up to the main hospital road, blocking it for an hour and chanting slogans to express their rage over the serious breach of security that led to the attack.
The demands of the protestors include: immediate arrest of the culprits behind the attack; initiation of punitive action against the security staff of PIMS; formation of an inquiry committee to fix responsibility for the security lapse that led to the attack; instant provision of fool-proof security to doctors working in all federal government hospitals; and handling of the attack as an act of terrorism so that it is heard by a military court.
“We have given a 48-hour ultimatum to the federal government and the PIMS administration for fulfilment of these demands. Failure to do so will force us to broaden the scope of the protest, regardless of the consequences that such action may entail,” the protestors maintained. They asserted that the government itself will be responsible for any untoward incident that might unfold as a result of the strike.
The protest was addressed by the YDA leadership from all federal hospitals.
“We urge the government to arrest the culprits as soon as possible. Doctors are experiencing an acute sense of insecurity in the wake of the attack. We are totally enraged by the manner in which armed men fled the scene in the presence of security staff. We want immediate action against those responsible for this serious lapse,” they stated.
The protestors said doctors are being attacked everywhere in Pakistan. “It is the government’s foremost duty to protect the life and property of its citizens. We want foolproof security in all hospitals,” they demanded.
Earlier on, the minister of state for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Usman Ibrahim took the PIMS administration to task for its failure to strengthen the surveillance of the hospital. He directed the vice chancellor of PIMS Dr. Javed Akram to fix responsibility for the security lapse and to proceed against those responsible, under the law. He also demanded a weekly update on the measures being taken to enhance the security of the hospital premises.
Chairing a meeting convened in the wake of the attack on Dr. Shahid, the CADD minister expressed dissatisfaction on the security arrangements in place at PIMS despite his repeated instructions to beef up the same after the Army Public School incident. He reminded PIMS authorities of the January 15, 2015 meeting wherein he had given express directions for installation of CCTV cameras at all the entry and exit points of the hospital.
The meeting was also attended by Khalid Hanif, secretary CADD, and other senior officers of the Ministry and PIMS. The secretary CADD passed on instructions for round-the-clock patrolling service around the inner and peripheral areas of PIMS; installation of CCTV cameras on all the entry and exit gates of the hospital; and rectification of breaches in its peripheral wall.
Dr. Akram typically stated that the security of PIMS is being beefed up in consultation with the civil and military authorities. “The Institute is in the process of hiring additional security guards and installing CCTV cameras to fill the gaps. Furthermore, patrolling of the compound of PIMS has also been initiated after the tragic shooting,” he said.
Dr. Zahid Larik, the director of MCH has been appointed as the chief security officer of PIMS and is actively engaging with the law enforcement agencies to ensure the security of the premises, Dr. Akram added.
The VC informed Usman about the medical condition of Dr. Shahid. “All efforts were made to save his life. However, on the request of his family, he was shifted to CMH,” he apprised. Usman advised the VC to provide all possible facilitation to the family of Prof. Shahid Nawaz Malik, and assistance to the law enforcement agencies so that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are apprehended.