SAHIWAL: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz removed Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Maria Tariq and ordered the arrest of District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Sohail Asghar and DHQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Adnan Ghaffar over the death of 20 babies between June 16 and 22.

She suspended from service three paediatricians — Dr Adnan, Dr Shahzeb and Dr Imran — for alleged negligence and launched inquiries into the charges against them. Three laboratory technicians — Tufail, Murtaza, and Mumtaz Bhatti — were also arrested for referring patients to their privately-run labs operating outside the hospital premises.

The CM ordered action against the owner and in-charge of the hospital’s parking contractor for overcharging Rs50 and Rs100 in excess of the parking fees. A comprehensive audit of all medical equipment in the hospital had also been initiated.

She directed DC Maria Tariq to relinquish her charge and report to the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).

Removes DC, suspends three doctors, sends as many lab technicians behind bars over death of 20 babies

The chief minister took action on Friday during her visit to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Pakpattan in the wake of the deaths of newborns in the hospital.

She visited multiple wards, laboratories and the medical store, engaging directly with staff, patients and technicians. She made the implementation of emergency response systems Code Red (fire emergency) and Code Blue (medical emergency) mandatory in all public hospitals of Punjab.

During her walk through the hospital, the CM inquired after an injured child and listened to public complaints, including one from a citizen who reported that even basic medicines like disprin tablets were unavailable in the emergency ward. She questioned how, despite allocation of Rs100bn for medicines, the patients were still being forced to purchase them. She said essential drugs were available in hospital stores but not reaching the patients.

Earlier, on her arrival, the CM received a briefing on the preliminary findings of the two external inquiry committee reports. A representative of the provincial health department and Commissioner Asif Tufail presented the final report in the presence of PML-N parliamentarians and other divisional and district officials. The commissioner revealed that many infants’ deaths were linked to the referral of critical newborns from unregistered private maternity hospitals being run by traditional midwives and quakes.

He claimed that oxygen shortage was not a factor, citing the availability of 45 oxygen cylinders at the facility. Furthermore, he stated that DHQ Hospital Pakpattan had failed to follow the protocols of the Punjab Healthcare Commission. He said the health department had sealed the operating theatres of four unauthorised private hospitals — Al-Farid Hospital, Doctor Hospital, Shahid Hospital, and Ali Hospital.

During the briefing, PML-N MPA Chaudhry Javed advocated for upgrading the local nursing college and developing the western loop bypass in Pakpattan City. The CM assured him that development funds would be allocated as needed.

Heavy security was deployed throughout the CM’s visit, with police sealing all roads from Bakhtiar Kaki Chowk to Nagina Chowk, leading to the DHQ Hospital and the Baba Farid’s shrine.

According to reports, Dr Ahsan from CEO health office, Sahiwal, has been appointed new MS of DHQ Hospital Pakpattan.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2025