LAHORE: A mock exercise conducted by Lahore police at the Jinnah Hospital on Monday, aimed at ensuring preparedness in case of “a hostile situation”, panicked all those present there, including patients, their attendants and even the administration of the healthcare facility.

Some of those caught off guard in the resulting chaos suffered minor injuries during the exercise that gave them a real feel of a hostile situation.

Personnel of Lahore police, Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit, besides Elite Force commandos, took part in the exercise that even took the hospital administration by surprise, according to a senior doctor present there.

“Only a woman attendant got minor injuries and she was sent home after first-aid,” said the doctor who sought anonymity.

An eyewitness said two men covering their faces with shawls stormed into the outpatient ward, after dodging the security guards at its entrance. “All of a sudden, they started running haphazardly when some policemen who came from nowhere challenged them,” said a guard who was on duty at OPD when the exercise began.

“The policemen continued challenging the suspicious men on the run which made the people in the OPD and emergency believe it is real as there had been such attacks in the hospital in the past,” said a lady doctor.

Young Doctors Associ-ation’s Jinnah Hospital chapter president Dr Amir Sohail claimed the administration failed to inform doctors, nurses and paramedical staff about the exercise that resulted in mass panic and affected healthcare delivery at the hospital.

“Apart from some minor injuries caused to doctors, nurses, paramedics, patients and their attendants, there was no major mishap. We condemn this unprofessional attitude of the administration and appreciate young doctors who continued serving patients despite the panic created because of poor planning,” said Dr Sohail, who was accompanied by YDA’s Punjab information secretary Dr Usman.

Such surprise exercises are being conducted at various public institutions to ensure preparedness of various departments responsible for protection, relief and rescue in case of a terrorist attack.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2017