KASUR: Scores of villagers staged a demonstration in front of the Kasur District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital against the alleged negligence of doctors that took the life of a man on Friday.

The protesters put the body on the road near Steel Bagh Mor on Ferozepur Road and threw traffic out of gear for about one hour and chanted slogans against the hospital administration.

According to the police, Muhammad Anwar, 50, was rushed to the DHQ Hospital on Friday with injuries in a roadside accident near village Talwandi on Depalpur Road.

According to protesters, Anwar remained in the emergency ward but no doctor attended him despite repeated requests by them. When the family insisted, a doctor referred the patient to the Lahore General Hospital without attending him.

The agitators alleged that ambulance staff refused to shift the patient to Lahore as it was prayer break. Protesters said Anwar died without any treatment at the DHQ hospital at the emergency ward.

When other family members of the deceased and villagers learnt about the death, they gathered at the hospital and staged a protest demonstration.

They, later, put the body on the road near steel Bagh Mor on Ferozepur Road and chanted slogans against the hospital administration. They demanded a legal action against doctors and paramedics.

On the assurance of City Deputy Superintendent of Police Rai Ehsan and CEO Dr Nazir Ahmed that justice would be done, protesters dispersed peacefully. This is the second protest in a week at the hospital.

A couple of days back, hospital doctors were on strike against Deputy Commissioner Azhar Hayat for removing medical superintendent Dr Sagheer Ahmed over his absence. The strike was called off on Wednesday, after a meeting between DC and doctors.

Earlier, a couple of weeks back, paramedics were on strike against Dr Sagheer over alleged embezzlement in the local purchase of medicines.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2019