ISLAMABAD: A reply submitted to the Senate by the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) states that the division has ensured foolproof measures are taken to protect hospital employees, who are at risk of disease and exposed to radiation due to their direct interaction with patients suffering from infectious diseases and with X-ray machines.

The matter was raised by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam Khan Swati, who asked what steps the government has taken to ensure that the health of employees of public sector hospitals is protected. He also asked if there is a mechanism in place to observe health safety measures.

CADD said medical check-ups and tests, including blood panel, urine tests and chest X-rays, are carried out annually for radiology employees, and the medical care files of all workers are maintained.

It said the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) carries out regular inspections and renews licences every year. Lead aprons are provided to employees and duties are assigned in rotation. X-rays are conducted in separate rooms and protective gear – such as caps, gowns, goggles, gloves and foot covers – are provided for CT scans.

Patients undergoing surgery are screened for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV, to ensure the safety of staff and other patients. Infectious waste is segregated and disposed using an incinerator, and all healthcare employees are trained to protect themselves from infectious disease by using protective equipment, the ministry said.

CADD said there is also an ongoing hepatitis B vaccination programme for employees of a specialised area, and hospitals are registered with the Islamabad Blood Transfusion Authority (IBTA) to ensure health safety measures.

However, a doctor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences who asked not to be named said while there are good standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent radiation exposure and the spread of infectious diseases, they are not fully implemented.

“X-rays are held in separate rooms and at the time of the X-ray the employees leave the room, but they are not fully trained in all the protective measures. The case with infectious diseases is the same – we cannot say for sure that not a single patient or employee has contracted an infectious disease because of the steps taken by hospitals,” he said.

“The SOPs the upper house has been informed of are followed in developed countries, while developing countries just announce them and do not implement them more than 50pc,” he added.

Published in Dawn December 19th, 2016