Expresses indignation over poor hygienic conditions; reprimands AMS for not wearing robe
LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Thursday paid a surprise visit to newly-constructed Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Raiwind without any protocol.
The CM reached the hospital without any prior intimation and the media, hospital administration and district administration remained unaware about his visit. The CM reviewed medical facilities being provided to the patients in the hospital. He inquired from the patients and their attendants about treatment facilities in the hospital and inquired after their wellbeing.
He issued necessary instructions regarding treatment facilities in emergency of the hospital. Shahbaz Sharif expressed indignation over poor cleanliness arrangements in the hospital and reprimanded Assistant Medical Superintendent, Dr Mehmood Akhtar, for not wearing robe. The CM said he is a doctor and robe is his identity. He talked to nurse sisters present on duty belonging to Kasur in emergency and asked questions regarding treatment of the patients. On complaint of woman medical officer and some other women staff, he directed provision of transport for the staff present on duty in the evening. He inspected washrooms in emergency and other wards and expressed indignation over unavailability of liquid soap there and added that lack of such facilities in the new hospital is in no way proper.
He expressed angriness on dirty look of hospital wards and stairs and said that there should be excellent arrangements of cleanliness in such a splendid hospital and sanitation staff should wear uniform. He reprimanded hospital administration on unsatisfactory arrangements of hygiene in the wards. The CM said cleanliness is half faith but it is deplorable that hygiene arrangements in washrooms and wards are unsatisfactory and even there is no liquid soap in washrooms. He reprimanded MS on poor arrangements of cleanliness and medical facilities provided in the hospital and issued directions to improve the situation.
Addressing the MS, Shahbaz Sharif said that had he visited wards regularly the situation would have been different. Seeing some wards empty, the CM insisted do patients not visit the hospital, upon which the hospital administration informed that still the entire staff has not been appointed in the hospital and there is shortage of doctors as well as surgeons. Whose responsibility is to meet the shortage of staff of hospital, he questioned. The CM said that it is the responsibility of medical superintendent to run the affairs of the hospital in an efficient manner and provide facilities to the patients.
He visited room of MS Dr Muhammad Naeem and expressed indignation over running of air-conditioner there and said that it is improper that ACs of wards and other rooms of the hospital are switched off while AC of his room is operational.
He said that there is liquid soap present in the room of MS but there is ordinary soap in washrooms used for common people. Shahbaz Sharif said if he is unaware of problems of the hospital and appointment of doctors then there is no justification for him to remain on his post, it is better for him to go home. The CM inspected operation theater and dental surgery room. Expressing annoyance over the waste present in dustbin in dental surgery room, he directed to improve hygiene arrangements in the hospital. The CM went to pharmacist room and stockroom of medicines and checked the register and inspected the process of distribution of medicines. He directed to conduct complete audit of medicines after immediate sealing of store. However, during audit, medicines should continuously be supplied to the patients, he added. He asked from the patients about the facilities and provision of medicines upon which the patients said that they are receiving medicines while others said that they are not receiving. Talking to hospital administration, doctors and other staff, Shahbaz Sharif said that service to the people is also a form of worship. He said doctors and paramedical staff should perform their duties with a spirit of service to ailing humanity. The CM said that he has taken the responsibility to improve hospitals and will not rest content till the provision of quality health facilities to the patients in the hospitals. He said billions of rupees are being spent on providing quality medical facilities to the common man therefore fruits of resources of billions of rupees provided for improvement of health sector should reach the masses at every cost. He said common man has full right over quality healthcare facilities and he will fulfill the mission of provision of medical facilities to the common man at all costs. That is why he is personally visiting hospitals to review the facilities being provided to the patients in the hospitals, he added. When the CM returned after his visit, he came out of his car while seeing the people outside the hospital and listened to their problems. He assured to resolve problems of people of Raiwind at the earliest. He said the government has constructed a best hospital for the area and he is personally reviewing the facilities being provided in the hospital. Similarly, a flyover is also being constructed on railway line for their area, which will be completed soon, he added.