The private sector medical community put forward their concerns to health officials regarding the excessive use of force by police in maintaining a check on dengue diagnostic and treatment facilities, Pakistan Today has learnt.
A meeting of doctors from the private sector with the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) was held to take account of the situation after police raids on private health establishments. PMA office bearers said police’s involvement was creating unrest among doctors in private-sector hospitals and laboratories. “SHOs are harassing small health establishments, while no action is being taken against big hospitals because everyone is afraid of them. At least 24 hours should be given for the CM’s orders’ implementation. All action has been taken on the vague circular distributed by the CDGL and even medical organisations were not given a copy of the circular given to SHOs,” PMA office-bearer Salmaan Kazmi said.
Stakeholders also demanded clarity on the free treatment of dengue patients, as patients complaining of dengue were frequently suffering from other ailment too which needed expensive treatment. After consulting all stakeholders, the PMA talked to the commissioner and health secretary, who were sympathetic towards the plight of doctors, Kazmi added.
