SZMC&H principal, MS suspended over negligence in harassment case

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Punjab Health secretary on Saturday suspended the principal and medical superintendent of Rahim Yar Khan’s Shaikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital (SZMC&H) in light of a report submitted by a committee probing the incident of attempted rape of a lady doctor.

“Principal Prof Dr Mubarik Ali and MS Dr Ghulam Rabani were preliminarily found negligent in an incident of alleged harassment of a female medical officer at SZMC&H Rahim Yar Khan,” read a notification issued here.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that a departmental action would also be taken against the suspended officers. “Harassment of doctors in general and lady doctors, in particular, will not be tolerated” she added.

Yasmin also said that an FIR had been lodged against the accused and he was already in police custody. “Now that the health department has taken prompt action of the incident, no strikes should be held and patients visiting the hospital should not face any problems,” she added.

Earlier, doctors had claimed that their colleague was alone in a room when the suspect had tried to overpower her. She had cried to alert the security guards around and had successfully saved herself. The guards had handed over the suspect to the police.

The Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) had also protested against the incident, following which Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar had taken notice of the matter.