KARACHI, Nov 29: Sindh Health Minister Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani in a surprise visit to the Sindh Institute of Skin Diseases and Hospital, Saddar, on Tuesday relieved it medical superintendent Dr Sikandar Ali Mahar with immediate effect for unsatisfactory performance of the hospital.

The MS was directed to report to the health department. The minister also ordered to issue show cause notices to staff nurse Ms Sakina, nurse Nasima and watchman Haroon for their absence from the duty.

The minister paid surprise visit on a complaint by MPA Shakir. He checked the attendance register, stock register of medicines, storeroom and inquired about the stocks of medicines. He also met patients and inquired about the behaviour of doctors with them.

Dr Sikandar Mahar informed the minister that about 3,000 OPD patients were provided with medicines daily. The minister, however, resented on sanitary condition at the hospital, dirty bed-sheets at the wards and alleged irregularities with regard to medicine stock and their record and attributed it to the inefficiency of the medical superintendent.

The minister said he would conduct such surprise visits to other public sector hospitals to take stock of the situation.

Shabbir Qaimkhani, accompanied by Secretary Health Naushad Shaikh, also visited Rafiq Shaheed City District Government Hospital and inspected the ongoing construction work.—PPI