–Services hospital chief says certain medical tests, including genetic test, are not available in Pakistan
–Former PM delays departure for Sharif Medical City hospital for a night after being discharged from SIMS
LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif needs to go abroad for treatment, the head of the panel of doctors overseeing the treatment of the former prime minister said on Tuesday, as the former, who was discharged on his request from the Services Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), changed his mind in the evening and requested that he spend the night at the hospital instead of being shifted to the Sharif Medical City Hospital in Raiwind.
“Health department should talk to us,” Prof Dr Mehmood Ayaz told reporters, adding that the medical board set up for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader’s treatment would give in writing that he should undergo genetic test from abroad.
Ayaz added the foreign visit would become essential if doctors want to examine his body tissues in order to diagnose the exact cause of his illness.
He added the PML-N leader was not facing a minor genetic issue.
He that certain medical tests — including a genetic test — that have been recommended for Nawaz are not available in Pakistan.
The medical board recommended that a genetic test be carried out after it was observed that Nawaz’s platelets could not be raised to normal levels and that his sugar and blood pressure levels were also inconsistent.
Dr Ayaz said that Nawaz’s health, overall, had seen an improvement. “If he wishes to travel, he can.”
Nawaz has procured bail on medical grounds in the ongoing Chaudhry Sugar Mills case from the Lahore High Court. His seven-year jail sentence in the Al Azizia case has also been suspended by the Islamabad High Court for eight weeks on medical grounds.
When asked about Nawaz’s health indicators, the doctor said that while his condition has seen a slight improvement, his CBC report has shown a decline in platelet levels yet again. His platelet levels now stand at 30,000 per microliter, he said.
Furthermore, his sugar levels have not been able to be stabilised in the past 15 days. According to the medical board, the former premier’s sugar levels are checked 5-6 times daily. The levels have spiked as high as 150-190.
Members of the board said Nawaz’s medicines undergo a revision every day and that despite the use of steroids, his sugar levels are unable to be controlled. They said that the use of steroids is necessary to maintain normal functioning of the kidneys. A low dose of these steroids is being given, the board added.
According to Dr Ayaz, during the meeting, it was decided that the dose of steroids should be lowered even further.
The medical board said that Nawaz’s blood pressure and cholesterol levels are also beyond what is considered normal.
“We have now removed restrictions from his diet plan,” said the board, adding that he will now have a simple diet instead of a restricted one. It was also decided that his water intake should be increased and that he should go for walks daily.
Additionally, some samples were taken so that cardiac, kidney and sugar level tests can be carried out.
NAWAZ DELAYS DEPARTURE:
Meanwhile, the former premier decided to delay his departure from the hospital so that he and his daughter Maryam Nawaz could leave together since the release orders for the latter could not be obtained from Lahore High Court on Tuesday.
Maryam Nawaz has also been under treatment at the Services Hospital since October 23, a day after her father was admitted. She is awaiting her release on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case after the LHC had granted her request a day earlier.
The PML-N leader has been ordered to furnish two surety bonds, each worth Rs10 million, and deposit an additional Rs70million and surrender her passport to secure her release.
While her husband Captain (r) Mohammad Safdar submitted the additional amount of Rs70 million along with her passport to the court, Maryam’s lawyers were late in completing documentation and the surety bonds could not be submitted within the court’s working hours.
Nawaz’s discharge slip was issued by the hospital on Tuesday evening after a medical check-up was done. An ambulance from Sharif Medical City Hospital had arrived to transport the former premier. PML-N president and brother of the former premier, Shehbaz Sharif, had also arrived to review the arrangements made.
Later, when Nawaz decided to stay on at the hospital till Maryam’s release was secured, the ambulance was sent back.
