KOHAT: A protest demonstration was held in front of a private hospital over the death of a woman and her newborn baby in the wee hours on Friday.

The protesters alleged that the staff of the private clinic conducted operation on the woman without a doctor, causing her and her baby’s death.

The protesters and the hospital staff scuffled, but police intervened.

The deaths occurred due to an operation conducted by a lady health visitor secretly without permission of doctor, a staff nurse disclosed to reporters.

She claimed that woman’s husband and her relatives had repeatedly asked the nursing staff not to carry out operation on her, and call the doctor for the purpose, but they went ahead with the surgery.

Talking to mediapersons, a brother of the deceased said he brought his sister for delivery at 3am on Friday, but the dead baby was handed over to them at 5am. Later, he said he also found his sister lying dead.

He said by 9am the administration staffers had disappeared after seeing the protesters.

The protest caused huge traffic jam on the busy Kutcheri Road.

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL ACCUSED OF HARASSING STAFF: The house officers of the Khyber Medical University’s Institute of Dental Sciences have accused the principal of harassment, and threatening male and female staffers for exposing the dilapidated condition of the college since he took charge three years ago.

Talking to reporters, members of the Young Doctors Association without disclosing their names condemned the act, saying in case any harm was caused to any staff member, the principal would be held responsible.

They said necessary equipment in the college was in need of repair and there were no medicines, as a result, patients were being referred to either the KDA Teaching Hospital or Peshawar.

A young doctor alleged that the principal called him to his office on Friday and threatened that he would terminate all of them over defaming the institute as the DIG Kohat division was his relative.

Meanwhile, a notice issued on Sept 24 by the principal said it has been observed with great concern that some individuals, associations, house officers and students with mala fide intentions are involved in defaming the institute on media, which is negative, insulting and offending against a prestigious institute having been recognised by the Pakistan Medical Commission.

It warned the respondents that if such lawful practices were not stopped forthwith, their names along with proof would be disclosed to the authorities concerned for disciplinary action under relevant laws.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2020