CJP seeks report on facilities not available at JPMC

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar has sought a detailed report from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) officials on the various health facilities that are not available to patients at one of the country’s largest tertiary care hospitals.

Justice Nisar visited the medical centre on Saturday and took a tour of various wards and facilities there. He was accompanied by Supreme Court judges Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Faisal Arab as well as Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho, JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali, NICVD’s Dr Malik Hamidullah and other officials of the health department.

The CJP started his tour from the JPMC’s Emergency Department where he visited the different sections of the ward and asked about the number of beds, ventilators as well as availability and provision of medicines and other medical supplies at the hospital.

He also inquired about the provision of facilities from the patients receiving care there. Some complained about being neglected by the hospital staff as well as non-availability of some medical supplies, while an elderly patient complained that his blood glucose levels were not being tested in the emergency ward.

Justice Nisar later visited the Intensive Care Unit of the Neurosurgery Department where he also questioned staff on the number of ventilators and other facilities being provided to patients.

The CJP and his group then visited the Radiology Department and inspected the MRI, CT scan and Cyber Knife facilities. The department’s Professor Tariq Mehmood briefed the CJP on the latest radiology services patients were getting there.

During the visit, JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali informed the chief justice about the new surgical complex building being constructed under public-partnership. After the completion of the complex, all surgical departments would be shifted to the new building, she said.

Dr Jamali added another waiting area was being constructed at the hospital to facilitate attendants of patients and that the administration was trying to provide better health facilities to people.

Justice Nisar expressed satisfaction on the available healthcare services at JPMC and also sought a report on services not being provided there.

Following the CJP’s visit, Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho expressed pleasure with the outcome of the tour and praised Dr Jamali for running the hospital “very well”.

He said he hoped that medical superintendents of other public hospitals would also follow in her footsteps. He presented her a Rs10 note signed by him as a token of appreciation for her work.