KARACHI: The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) on Wednesday said that it had replaced head of cardiac surgery department Dr Pervaiz Chaudhry only after his contract had expired and it had nothing to do with his measures for prevention of Covid-19 cases in the facility.

In a statement the NICVD “completely denied” such reports and said that it had a record of being very sensitive regarding Covid-19 patients. The institute, it said, ensured that Covid-19 did not spread among patients and staff members at NICVD.

“Proper protocols are implemented for this purpose,” it said. “We only get Covid-19 patients with active cardiac problem and our results in managing these patients are excellent. Administration does not think that any doctor or hospital administrator in the world will risk exposing his or her staff or patients to Covid-19. Dr Pervaiz Chaudhry’s contract has expired therefore Dr Asad Bilal Awan who is the senior-most surgeon in the department has been given the acting charge.”

However, Dr Chaudhry in a quick response rejected the claims of the NICVD and announced to address a press conference where he would give details of the whole affair.

He said he was active in decision-making and running administration of the NICVD till Monday and on Tuesday, when he had raised alarm over Covid-19 cases he was shown the door with “flawed excuses.”

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2020