KARACHI: Another harassment case was allegedly reported at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) on Tuesday night amid doctors’ boycott of the outpatient departments (OPDs) for foolproof security at the health facility.

Sources said security concerns at the hospital followed the death of a patient in the paediatrics department.

Speaking to Dawn, female doctors condemned what they described as silence on part of the administration that, they alleged, had taken no action on their complaints.

“The first harassment incident was reported on March 18 when drunken attendants entered the paediatrics’ floor and sneaked into the female doctors’ room. They made their videos while they were resting and harassed others on duty in the intensive care unit,” recalled an ASH doctor on the condition of anonymity.

YDA, protesting doctors demand private security, implementation on one-patient, one-attendant policy

The administration, she said, took no action, leaving the doctors with no option but to boycott the OPDs.

The second incident, according to her, occurred on Tuesday night around 3pm when a drunken man appeared on the gynaecology department’s floor and harassed the doctors on duty.

The incident, she said, was immediately reported to the resident medical officer (general) but he took no action.

In a letter written to the hospital’s director, several postgraduate (PG) residents of gynaecology department’s three units had demanded protection at the workplace.

“The RMO general was informed but he didn’t take it serious. In fact, a member verbally harassed the PGs who complained and made fun. We strongly condemn this act and demand immediate action. We won’t be performing any of our duty till proper security is provided,” the letter dated March 22 said.

In response to the agitation, ASH doctors stated the administration had expressed willingness to post (political) workers at the hospital for security purposes.

“This is unacceptable. We demand that private armed security guards are posted here,” another doctor said.

Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association (YDA), Sindh chapter, has extended its support to the protesting doctors and demanded that the administration take immediate action against the culprits involved in harassment.

“We demand that private armed security guards are deployed at ASH. One-patient-one-attendant policy should be followed at the hospital with fixed visiting hours and attendants should be bound to get gate pass for visiting the patient.

“Admission slips should be made only after the attendant/s produced a copy of the national identity card,” said a statement of YDA.

The association also demanded action against the RMO general who was on duty with the city warden but failed to take action.

When contacted, ASH director Dr Nadir Hussain, who has taken over the hospital charge a day earlier, said he would be meeting the police and Rangers’ officials on this matter on Friday (tomorrow).

“Since we don’t have funds to deploy armed security guards, we will request both the police and Rangers to post their armed personnel here with a mobile van,” he said, clarifying that the administration never made a suggestion for the deployment of political workers.

He rejected the allegation that the RMO or any other male staff member harassed the female doctors and that the people who trespassed the hospital premises were drunk.

“This has never happened before. I would be getting a report on this matter soon that would include statements from everyone concerned and affected and then anything could be said with certainty. I would also be looking into the death of the child. I am sure that the doctors had tried their best to save the patient,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2023