Hundreds of patients, especially small children, faced immense hardships on Tuesday after doctors at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi boycotted out-patient departments (OPDs) in protest against torture on one of their colleagues by attendants of a patient at the hospital the other day.
A group of people had subjected a doctor and some paramedics to torture on Monday, alleging that their negligence resulted in the death of a minor girl, who was in critical condition but denied ventilator by a doctor.
Protesting against growing incidents of violence and torture against doctors and paramedical staff, doctors and paramedics at the NICH boycotted the OPDs and refused to attend to patients, saying that until and unless they were provided protection and peace of mind at their workplace they would not resume their duties.
They further warned that if their demands were not met and those involved in torture on their colleagues were not arrested, they would be compelled to boycott duties at wards. They demanded of the authorities to give exemplary punishment to those who resorted to violence against their colleagues.
An official of the NICH confirmed that doctors had refused to work in the OPDs in protest after they were subjected to violence a day earlier by attendants of a patient. He added that they had approached police for the provision of protection to the hospital staff as well as for registration of cases against the culprits.
FIR registered
The Saddar police registered an FIR against 10 unidentified people on the complaint of Dr Murtaza of the NICH, who reported that armed people barged into the hospital, inquired about him and also terrorised doctors, paramedics and nurses of the hospital.
On the other hand, a person who identified himself as Adil said Dr Murtaza of the NICH was responsible for the death of his baby girl as she was denied treatment by the doctor. He demanded of the authorities to register a case of manslaughter against him.
“This person, Murtaza, is a not a doctor but a butcher. He denied ventilator to my daughter and she died due to his criminal negligence. “When I called him and said my daughter had died due to your negligence, he said several children die daily at the NICH. Do whatever you want to do,” he claimed.