Punjab IGP raises security at teaching hospitals

Punjab Police Inspector General (IGP) Javed Iqbal on Sunday issued written orders to the chief city police officer (CCPO) Lahore and district police officers (DPOs) of other districts to provide security to 18 teaching hospitals in Punjab.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) office bearers welcomed the IGP’s decision hoping that the CCPO and the DPOs would ensure compliance with his orders and deploy police constables at least at the emergency wards of the hospitals. The PMA officials said manhandling of doctors by armed attendants in emergency wards followed by junior doctors’ strikes was a matter of concern for the public and it was about time that the problem be resolved.
In the past, there were only 46 policemen deployed for the security of teaching hospitals in Punjab but the IGP has promised to increase the strength.
The PMA, in this regard, sent letters to the heads of nine medical institutions in the city, requesting them to get police personnel deployed at their hospitals in consultation with the CCPO Lahore, in line with the IGP’s directives. The Services Hospital Lahore Medical Superintendent demanded 11 more policemen from the CCPO including three lady constables.