THATTA, July 4: The office bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the doctors of the Civil Hospital Makli held a protest demonstration on Thursday against the DCO, Thatta, Usman Panhwar.
The protesters wore black arm bands and hoisted black flags on the hospital and administration block to protest against the DCO.
A hurriedly called meeting of the PMA, Thatta, presided over by Dr Ghulam Nabi Khushik, while condemning the attitude of the DCO constituted an action committee to launch a protest campaign next week.
Later, while talking to newsmen at the press club, Dr Ghulam Nabi said that the DCO should come forward and help and coordinate with the hospital administration but instead he was always provoking the doctors on one pretext or another.
The DCO on being contacted said that various committees of doctors had been formed to ensure just utilization of funds earmarked in the budget of fiscal year 2003-4 of the District Council meant for the development of the Civil Hospital; however, a group of doctors enjoying monopoly in the hospital were bent on serving vested interests and making libelous accusations, which were totally baseless and fabricated.
DEMO: Doctors of the Civil Hospital Makli boycotted the OPD and wards and held a protest demonstration on the National Highway for two hours on Friday.
They carried banners inscribed with slogans against the DCO, Thatta, Usman Panhwar.
The leaders of the action committee and office bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association, Thatta, Dr Ghulam Nabi Khushik, Dr Yousuf Memon and others, while addressing the protesters, condemned the provocative and abusive attitude of the DCO with the doctors of the Civil Hospital Makli.
HEALTH OFFICIALS WARNED: The director general, Health Services, Sindh, Dr Qadir Bux Memon, paid surprise visits to the Basic Health Centres of Jhirk, Tando Hafiz Shah and Naon Pako Road on Thursday and expressed his displeasure over the working of the district health department.
He warned that disciplinary action would be taken against the health officials.
Speaking at a press conference in the office of the EDO, health, Dr Qadir regretted that doctors and paramedical staff were not regular in their duties.
He said he had received many complaints against the civil surgeon of the Civil Hospital Makli.
He said he had suspended a vaccinator, Ali Mohammad, for misbehaving with a doctor.
He said from now onwards the provincial health department would never leave the Thatta health department unchecked.
He directed that medicines, anti-snake vaccines and anti-rabies vaccines be provided in the hospitals so that there was never a shortage.
The director general said that he had constituted a four-member committee, headed by Surgeon Ghulam Mustafa, to inquire about the death of a girl, Guddi, daughter of Mohammad Aarab Baghal, due to the alleged criminal negligence of a paediatrician, Dr Umaid Ali Khwaja, at the Taluka Hospital Sujawal recently.
He said that he had issued the transfer orders of Dr Bashir Ahmed Memon, Medical Superintendent, Rural Health Centre, Bulri Shah Karim, due to receiving a number of complaints against him.
