Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) held a protest meeting on Friday at Dow Medical College to condemn the brutal attack on a doctor and a technician of Civil Hospital Karachi by the attendants of a gunshot patient who expired last night.
The attendants of the patient beat up Surgeon Dr Umairul Islam, Associate Professor of Surgery, and the Para Medical Staff of Surgical Ward of Civil Hospital while providing emergency surgical treatment to the patient admitted to the Surgical Ward of Civil Hospital.
The protest meeting was attended by Members of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Young Doctors Association (YDA), Sindh Para Medical Staff Association (SPMSA), senior professors, faculty members, doctors, para medical staff and a large number of students of the university. Participants of the meeting showed great concern over this incident that potentially was a homicidal attempt on a senior and respectable physician and faculty member holding the very important post at DUHS/CHK which is a premier medical institution of Pakistan.
Prof Dr Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor Dow University of Health Sciences, while addressing the protest meeting expressed deep sorrow and grief over the incident. He said such kinds of incidents were increasing day by day. Doctors are feeling insecure because of frequent incidents of killing, kidnapping and manhandling and the doctors are unable to perform their duties in hostile circumstances. Doctors could not work in an environment of insecurity. He requested the government to make efforts to give protection to the doctor. He further said that a judicial inquiry should be set up to investigate the issue and strict action should be taken against the culprits. He demanded security to doctors, medical professional and healthcare providers.
He further said that Dow University would avail the facility of private security firm for Civil Hospital Karachi from its own resources by cutting down its few projects. He also assured to discuss the matter pertaining to the security of doctors with the Sindh chief minister and governor.
Prof Dr Umer Farooq, Pro-Vice Chancellor, while sharing his views on the occasion said that doctors can’t perform their professional duties amid fears. Our highly qualified doctors and faculty members are working day in day out in the Hospital. Doctors fears working in insecure environment where armed men are roaming freely.
He further said that we must unite and fight for our rights. He said that doctor is a very noble profession. The govt should do something in order to stop the brutal attack on doctor and para medical staff. Security measure in the civil hospital should be made possible. There should be an internal security in the civil hospital. The university is ready to provide security to the civil hospital from its own resources. He also demanded the govt that police and range should be deployed at the entrance of the hospitals.
Dr Junaid Ashraf, DMC Principal, condemned the physical attack on doctors and para medical staff during duty. He said it was a matter of great concern that once again one of our senior faculty members was seriously assaulted and manhandled which caused him severe injuries and fractures. The issue of security is very important for doctors. Doctor cannot work in this kind of insecure environment. The government should take prompt action to stop such incidence. He also requested to investigate the issue and culprits should be arrested.
Dr Saeed Qureshy, Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, said that it was not the first incident. We are witnessing such issue every day. The government and high officials should take prompt action and measure to control these incidents.
Dr Samrina Hashmi, President PMA Sindh in her address showed extreme concern over the incidence. She said that from such kind of incidence our highly technical staff and doctors are leaving abroad. She demanded to provide security to the doctors and exemplary punishment for all the criminals involved in these crimes.
She further said that PMA has drafted a Health Commission Bill few years back but it is still pending and is not presented in the Assembly due to some political backing. He said that we have to be united to deal such kind of issues. He also announced the closure of all elective work of civil hospital beside emergency service.
Dr Umair Ul Islam, DMC/CHK Associate Professor of Surgery, termed the incident a brutal attack. He said it was the utmost time to do something for the protection of the doctors. Policy should be made to overcome such incidents. Such incidents should not repeat again, he demanded.
Others who spoke on the occasion include Abdul Qayyum of Young Doctor Association and Aslam of Technical Assistance.
Stand up against violence!
