RAWALPINDI, Dec 20: The Wednesday’s shooting incident in the operation theatre of the District Headquarters Hospital is a grim reminder of absence of security system in the public hospitals with unauthorised people even intruding the most restricted areas without any check.

This gruesome incident has added to the sense of insecurity among the patients and the doctors. Illegal activities like baby- lifting and theft of valuables have been continuing in these hospitals for quite sometime, but the authorities concerned have taken no practical steps to check them.

The murder of a man in the operation theatre of the hospital is a gruesome act and it remains to be seen what action the hospital authorities may take.

Previously, two babies were stolen from the Holy Family Hospital in two different incidents. Committees were formed and certain other proposals were also made, but despite all this these illegal activities continued.

During the holy month of Ramazan some people distributed poisonous sweets among the attendants leaving around 15 people unconscious. Those who distributed sweets fled away and their exact motives could not be known.

A few months back some people claiming to be relatives of an influential personality of the city held a couple of doctors hostage at the Holy Family Hospital. A medical officer in the casualty department escaped through the window to save his life. Similarly, theft of doctors’ valuables from the wards and the operation theatre is common at the Holy Family Hospital.

A newly bought motorbike of a doctor was stolen from the hospital premises sometime back, but the inquiry report held the doctor responsible, as he had not used an additional lock.

In the past, several incidents like trespassing on the lady doctors hostel, voyeurism and harassment was reported to the Rawalpindi General Hospital administration but it went unnoticed.

A few months back the body of an infant was recovered from the water tank of a washroom in the hospital.

Discussing the reasons for such happenings, the doctors said the police personnel deputed at the hospitals were highly non- cooperative. They said it was difficult to keep check on the people, as they continue coming in and going out of the hospital for medicines, diagnostic tests etc.

“When we stop someone, he shows us medicines purchased for the patient,” a doctor said and added that under such a situation it becomes difficult for them to check the outsiders and the irrelevant people.