Death of 20 children in Pakpattan Hospital MS, CEO, others arrested on CM’s orders

PAKPATTAN/LAHORE: On the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Medical Superintendent (MS) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Pakpattan were arrested on Saturday in connection with the deaths of 20 children.

She ordered the arrest during her visit to DHQ Hospital Pakpattan to inspect various wards, stores and labs of the hospital.

She said, “It is not (due to) shortage of doctors and nurses, but the lack of sense of service,”

She visited under-treatment patients in different wards and inquired about their condition one by one. She also interacted with the patients and their families, sitting in the waiting room of the hospital, and inquired them about the supply of medicines and availability of treatment facilities. Patients and their families piled up complaints of mismanagement and negligence in the hospital. They also complained about bringing medicines from outside.

Madam Chief Minister said,”Despite the presence of medicines in store, they are being ordered from outside by colluding with the pharmacy.” She added,”We are giving Rs 100 billion for medicines, then why are the people not getting them free?” She also got angry over no announcement for free medicines in the hospital. She highlighted,”If you try, you can find out the situation quite easily, it has come to light in a round of the hospital.” She strictly reprimanded for not getting medicine despite being available in store, and directed to implement Code Red and Code Blue system in government hospitals.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said,”90% of patients in DHQ are complaining about ordering medicines from outside.” She added,”The necessary machinery and equipment are packed and not used. They are brought from outside.” She directed for an audit of the hospital equipment, and warned the hospital authorities,”You will also have to be answerable to Allah Almighty for this criminal negligence. How can you escape Allah’s wrath?” She underscored,”Learn to see other people’s children with your own eyes.”

The Chief Minister said,”Weapons are not necessary to kill, criminal negligence can also lead to death.” She rejected an attempt to cover up the facts by MS and other responsible persons, and took a strong action against CO Health Pakpattan Dr. Sohail Asghar and MS DHQ Hospital Pakpattan Dr. Adnan Ghaffar for their criminal negligence in the discharge of official duties. She directed to arrest them and got a case registered against them in this regard.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif got furious and asked the relevant authorities with a heavy hesrt,”Do people come to hospitals to die?” She directed them to take effective decisions on all inquiries within a week, and said,”New MS from Sahiwal should be posted to DHQ Hospital Pakpattan.”

Chief Minister got offended over the use of AC in offices, but not in wards for the patients She got 03 private labs sealed for their collusion with Pakpattan hospital staff, and got 03 lab technicians from a private lab dismissed for colluding with the hospital staff. She also directed to arrest the owner and in-charge of the parking company on the complaints of overcharging Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 as parking fee from patients and their families, and directed to relieve DC Pakpattan of charges.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed measures to ban the use of mobile phones by doctors and paramedical staff during duty in hospitals, and directed to implement pager system instead for communication in hospitals. She said,”Strong decisions are necessary to make those responsible realize.”

Earlier an inquiry report into the hospital affairs was presented, which said,”MS DHQ Hospital Pakpattan has failed to fulfill his administrative responsibility.” It added,”The hospital consultants are not giving adequate time to patients.” It detailed,”Equipment required in the hospital is in the store, but has not been used. The reason for delay in the treatment of patients is the indifference of consultants, doctors and staff. Specialist doctors do not conduct rounds. Pedan incubators are present but not functional.”

The Inquiry Report highlighted,”Health Care Commission rules and regulations are not being followed completely in DHQ Hospital Pakpattan.” It added,”Emergency protocols for patients are not observed in DHQ Hospital, and its critical staff is not trained either.”