LAHORE: The confrontation between the Lahore police high-ups and the employees of the Jinnah Hospital over registration of a criminal case against some security guards of the healthcare facility has resulted in problems for the poor patients.

The doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital employees on Tuesday closed down the OPD of the Jinnah Hospital for an ‘indefinite period’ in protest against the police raids for the arrest of the facility’s security guards.

The protesters allegedly thrashed many patients and their attendants to get the OPD vacated and then locked all the rooms and the central gate of the department.

The row sparked after a scuffle between some police officials and the hospital guards over medical examination of a woman a few days back.

An official says that some policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), had visited the hospital for the medical examination of a woman in a registered case. However, despite waiting for hours, the police team could not get the woman examined by the the lady doctor concerned.

He said the police officials visited the hospital thrice, but they were not given access to the lady doctor.

When the ASI protested the prolonged delay in the woman’s examination at the hospital reception, a guard on duty confronted him, ensuing a scuffle between them over the issue, resulting in minor injuries to both.

The policemen later brought the matter to the notice of their officers, who ordered registration of a case against the security guards for attacking police and tearing their uniform.

The police later raided the residences of the security guards for their arrest, which sparked anguish among the hospital employees, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, who closed down the OPD for an indefinite period, the official says.

As per sources, the issue has become a bone of contention between Lahore police high-ups and the administration of the Jinnah Hospital, and both sides have refused to budge.

The poor patients visiting the hospital’s OPD are ultimate losers in the situation, though they have nothing to do with the row.The official says that on average 3,000 patients visit the Jinnah Hospital, being one of the largest public sector teaching institutes in the provincial capital.

He says the protesting employees of the hospital even didn’t spare some elderly patients brought to the facility on wheelchairs or stretchers, and forcibly turned them out of the OPD, before locking it.

He says different unions of paramedics and doctors are demanding withdrawal of the FIR lodged against the security guards and an end to police raids on their residences.

On the other hand, the high-ups of Lahore police, the hospital and the health department are playing the role of silent spectators, ignoring the plights of the patients.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2023