BAHAWALNAGAR: At least three more deaths have been reported across the district because of alleged negligence of paramedics in the past 48 hours.

In Chishtian, scores of people, including the family of a 10-year-old girl, who could not regain consciousness after a surgery and died at a private hospital, protested outside the facility on Sunday, blaming the hospital owner for her death.

Niaz, a labourer of Chak 98 Fateh, told the media that his daughter Noor (10) was brought to the private hospital run by Dr Tayyab, after her leg was broken in an accident on Saturday.

He said he had to sell his motorcycle-rickshaw, his only source of income to pay Rs21,000 to the hospital owner for her surgery.

He alleged that during the surgery his daughter was anesthetised by a quack instead of a specialist. He said when the girl did not regain consciousness even five hours after the surgery, they informed the doctor about it, who asked them not to worry and deposit the remaining fee.

On their repeated requests the doctor finally sent a dispenser to check the girl after nine hours, he added. He said that finally his daughter died in coma.

He said despite complaints the local health department took no action against the doctor and the hospital owner.

Chishtian City police said they were investigating the matter on the complaint of the victim’s father.

Dr Tayyab’s number was powered off, while no health official, including deputy district health officer (DDHO) and the district health officer (DHO) were available for their comments.

In another incident, a youth died at McLeod Ganj Rural Health Centre (RHC) after he suffered electric shock.

The victim Ali Raza’s family alleged that he was rushed to the Mcleoad Ganj RHC in a critical condition on Saturday afternoon, but no paramedical staff was present there to treat the patient who later died at the hospital.

Minchinabad DDHO Dr Abdul Rahman said the matter was being investigated.

In the third incident, a woman died at the Fort Abbas THQ Hospital allegedly after she was administered two wrong injections by a staff nurse.

Yaseen of Fort Abbas told the media that his wife Zulekha Bibi had fever and was admitted to the Fort Abbas THQ Hospital on Friday.

He said that doctors prescribed 14 intravenous injections to the patient but a staff nurse on Saturday evening administered her two injections to the patient, who died shortly afterwards.

The family staged a protest and demanded a murder case against those responsible for the death. Hospital’s medical Superintendent Dr Anwar said an inquiry had been initiated into the incident.

Earlier, a senior medical officer was sacked, while action was recommended against some other doctors and officials following death of three newborns because of suspension of oxygen supply to them at the Fort Abbas THQ Hospital.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2021