MUZAFFARGARH: The Kot Addu police registered a case against a woman patient’s family member who had protested against the Kot Addu Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital staff for not attending her in a delivery case two weeks ago.

Sughran Bibi gave birth on the corridor of the THQ Hospital on Aug 17 after, what her family says, doctors refused to admit her to the hospital.

The incident attracted attention of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Qaiser Saleem who told the District Health Authority chief executive officer and the Kot Addu assistant commissioner to look into the matter.

The inquiry report said Sughran was being treated in the labour room where her relative, Zaffar, entered without permission and after exchanging words with the staff, asked Sughran to come to the corridor. He took pictures of the patient and blackmailed the staff.

On the hospital administration report, the police registered a case against Zaffar.

The family alleged that the police implicated them in the case only to spare the doctor on duty, Dr Hira, who is stated to be the sister of a political figure.District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad constituted an inquiry team to see if the case against the woman’s relative was politically motivated.

Sources said Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also sought a report from the district administration into the case.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Muzaffargarh chapter, issued a press release that the Kot Addu THQ Hospital was under construction and only three beds were there in the labour room whereas 15 to 20 cases of delivery were treated on a daily basis.

The PMA said some touts instigated the woman to sit in the corridor and took her pictures which were uploaded on social media sites.

Also, the PMA has asked the DC to take action against the Jatoi assistant commissioner who has been living in the official residence of a doctor for a long time and has been using electricity from the Jatoi THQ Hospital connections.

In a press release, PMA leaders Dr Maqbool Alam and Dr Hassan Qureshi appealed to the DC to get the residence vacated.

DC Qaiser Saleem said the residence would be retrieved within days.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2018