An emergency meeting was held late on Monday night at the Civil Secretariat and presided over by Punjab Minister for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Kh Salman Rafique with the aim of rectifying shortcomings of the public healthcare system.
Based on recommendations of the enquiry committee constituted to probe the death of a patient due to the non-availability of adequate resources at Jinnah Hospital, Health Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah suspended Professors Jawad Zaheer and Tanveer-ul-Islam of the Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital, and Professor Zafar Iqbal of Allama Iqbal Medical College and Jinnah hospital, with immediate effect.
The secretary observed that if beds were not available, stretchers should be provided for patients. Shah said that if any patient was found lying on the floor, the hospital’s principal and medical superintendent will be held responsible.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Information Technology Board Chairman Dr Umer Saif, Health Special Secretary Dr Sajid Chauhan, Primary & Secondary Healthcare Special Secretary Dr Faisal Zahoor, Health DG Dr Mukhtar Husain Syed, Rescue 1122 DG Dr Rizwan Naseer, vice chancellor of the Fatima Jinnah Medical University, various medical college principals, and medical superintendents of teaching hospitals. Principals of medical colleges of other cities participated through a video link.
It was decided that every professor ought to be at their out-patient department twice a week from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, and that principals should conduct detailed inspections of their hospitals once a week.
It was also decided that a pool of ambulances will be set up under Rescue 1122 for shifting patients between hospitals and that the Punjab Information Technology Board will prepare software to facilitate these transfers within a week.
Khawaja Salman Rafique directed all vacant positions at hospitals to be filled as soon as possible. Health Secretary Najam Shah asked hospital administrators to approach the government for repair and maintenance funds as required.
He also directed the provision of accommodation to nurses and doctors transferred from other cities.
A committee was also constituted to ascertain the required medical equipment to patient ratio, which is to submit its recommendations within a week.