NAROWAL: The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has imposed Rs50,000 fine and sought action against two of its doctors and one nurse under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, finding them guilty of negligence that resulted in the death of a seven-year-old girl two years back.

The action was taken on the complaint of Salman Afzal, a labourer of Mohalla Khawajagan. In his complaint, he said his sister Asiya Batool had taken her daughter Raima (7) to the DHQ Hospital on Aug 3, 2018 for treatment of abdominal pain and vomiting. Raima’s condition did not improve despite spending 18 hours in the children’s ward of the hospital and she died due to the negligence of doctors and paramedics.

On his complaint, the PHC held an inquiry and a team visited the hospital. It checked the record of the hospital and information about the treatment given to the child. It also recorded statements of the medical superintendent (MS), doctors and paramedics. The inquiry report confirmed that Raima had died due to negligence of the hospital staff.

The PHC referred the cases of Dr Shahzadi Palwasha and Dr. Anam Akram to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and the health department to take action against them under the PEEDA Act. The case of nurse Sajida Praveen was also referred to the authorities concerned for action.

Raima’s mother Asiya said the PHC punishment was not enough and a case should be registered against the accused doctors with the Narowal Police Station.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2020