TAXILA: Doctors in public sector hospitals and health units in Attock have been directed to curb the growing tendency of referring trauma patients to Rawalpindi hospitals.

The direction was issued by Deputy Commissioner Attock Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh while chairing a meeting of the district emergency response committee on Saturday.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Jawad Ellahi and District Emergency Officer Kamran Rashid were present on the occasion. Mr Sheikh directed the health authorities not to refer all emergency cases unnecessarily to hospitals in Rawalpindi. He warned that strict action will be taken against doctors and paramedics involved in this practice.

He said the government wanted to provide maximum healthcare facilities to the masses at their doorsteps.

He said referral cases will be analysed on a weekly basis and if any referral case was found illogical, the concerned doctor and other relevant staff will be penalised.

He however said during the last three months referral cases had been controlled and patients were now being provided facilities within the hospitals in the district.

He said efforts were being made to ensure maximum health facilities in the district and tehsil headquarters hospitals and basic and rural health centres.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2021