LODHRAN: Two video footages are doing the rounds online where a tubewell operator and a midwife are treating patients in public health facilities as doctors are absent from duty.

A video footage of the Gogran Rural Health Centre (RHC) went viral in recent days which shows Midwife Saira Gul is working as a doctor and performing duty in the office of the RHC in charge. She is seen doing an ultrasound and prescribing medicines to pregnant patients.

When asked, RHC in charge Dr Niaz told Dawn that midwives were allowed to prescribe five types of medicine to patients but they were not allowed to conduct an ultrasound. About the footage, he said he would look into the matter.

Also, Health Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Akram Chaudhry issued a show-cause notice to the RHC in charge seeking explanation about the midwife act and duties of the staff.

Another video doing the rounds online is about Chak N231-WB RHC where tubewell operator Nadeem Akhtar Gill is doing duty as a doctor at night while the remaining staff is absent from the centre.

He says he is in the hospital to attend the patients as he can treat patients too. When asked about the duty doctor and other staff, Nadeem says when there is an emergency, they will call the doctor otherwise “only I attend the patients; if you are not sure about this, see that I’m attending the patients and I refer serious patients to other hospitals”.

The one who records the footage says these staffers are playing with public life while higher authorities are asleep.

CEO Dr Akram told Dawn the midwife of the Gogran RHC had been suspended from job whereas tubewell operator Nadeem had been transferred from the 231-WB RHC to another centre.

He said he had sought explanation from in charges of both centres. But according to Gogran RHC in charge Dr Niaz they had yet to receive the suspension order of the midwife.

The whistle blower of the midwife footage said he uploaded the video in the Prime Minister Citizen Portal some days back but Dr Niaz buried the matter by giving a false response to the authorities. Later on, he sent the video footage to journalists and uploaded online and its effects were visible.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2019