FAISALABAD: The Punjab Medical College (PMC) has formed a three-member committee of the Punjab Medical College to ascertain the reasons for children deaths at the paediatrics ward of DHQ Hospital, Sargodha.

The team, comprising Prof of Paediatrics Hinna Ayesha, expert in intensive care, Dr Zahid, neonatology specialist, and a nursing staff representative, has been constituted by PMC Principal Prof Muhammad Ali Tirmizey on the direction of the Punjab government.

Nineteen children have breathed their last at the Sargodha hospital since Wednesday.

Through a letter titled, “Fact findings of the death in the Paed ward at DHQ Hospital, Sargodha,” committee head Dr Ayesha has been asked to probe into the matter and prepare a report on the reasons for deaths at the hospital.

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The PMC principal told Dawn the committee would submit its report within two days. He said the committee would ascertain the causes of the alarming situation at the hospital and it would also advise the existing staff of the hospital for better patient management in future.

Sources said earlier a male professor of the paediatrics ward of Allied Hospital had been given the task to probe the issue. However, later on the decision was changed because an inquiry into deaths of more than 2,000 children in his ward was already under way.

Two committees — one formed by the Punjab government and the second by the Healthcare Commission — also visited the hospital a couple of days ago.

The chief minister’s investigation team recorded the statements of the hospital staff, including the doctors, and also checked the machinery being used for the treatment of children.

The sources, privy to the development, told Dawn the committee had visited the hospital on Saturday and sensing the situation decided to call more doctors from Faisalabad so that patients could be provided with better treatment at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik has suspended from service Sargodha DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Iqbal Sami.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique and Health Secretary Jawad Rafique which took important decisions in the wake of the death of babies in Sargodha hospital. It also reviewed the situation of the hospital.

Health Director General Dr Zahid Pervaiz and others were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2014