MULTAN: The Punjab government has suspended Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Multan Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Syed Shahid Hassan Shah after a PTI MPA filed a privilege motion against him in the provincial assembly.

Dr Shah has been suspended from service under section 6 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006 and has been directed to report to the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department.

In her motion, MPA Sabeen Gull Khan stated she went to the hospital on July 4 to have her daughter examined and the MS directed Dr Shah to take her to Dr Sadia Khan for medical checkup of the ailing girl. She stated Dr Shah showed displeasure and took her to senior medical officer Dr Khan after delay.

MPA’s privilege motion alleged denial of treatment to her daughter

She alleged that Dr Khan was chatting with her two friends and asked her to leave the room as she was busy checking patients.

“I don’t recognise any MPA,” she quoted the doctor as having said. She said when she complained to the MS about the attitude of both doctors, he expressed his inability to take action.

The MS, however, in his written response to the privilege motion stated that Dr Shah took the child and the MPA to the outpatient department. He stated that Dr Khan was examining patients and she asked the MPA about the problem of her daughter reacting to which the MPA became angry and returned to the MS office.

“I offered to manage the examination of the girl in my office but the MPA left in anger,” he stated.

“Being MS it is my responsibility that no one should leave (the hospital) angry or displeased. For which I extend my heartiest apology from Sabeen Gull Khan,” the MS concluded.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2019