MIANWALI, Dec 16: An expecting woman died apparently owing to unavailability of lady doctors at DHQ Hospital here on Monday night.

Wajid Iqbal Shah, a poor farmer of Dillewali village, some 15 kilometre away from here, took his pregnant wife to DHQ Hospital. Para-medical staff showed their inability to handle the delivery case in the absence of any lady doctor. They referred him to two nearby private facilities being run by DHQ lady doctors, who had allegedly proceeded on a long leave, where he was asked to pay Rs20,000.

As Wajid was unable to bear the expenses, he brought his wife back to DHQ Hospital, but she along with her foetus died at the main gate of the hospital.

Talking to Dawn, Wajid appealed to higher authorities, especially Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, to provide him justice and take the officials responsible for the death of his wife and his unborn child to task.

Talking to Dawn, Medical Superintendent Dr Mumtaz Elahi said it was surprising and unfortunate that gynecological facilities at DHQ Hospital along with lady doctors had been shifted to Sakina Memorial Children and Maternity Hospital on the directives of the health executive district officer (EDO) and because of this reason, no lady doctor was available at DHQ Hospital to attend maternity cases.

He said Sakina Hospital was established with funds provided by Senator Khwaja Akbar, but it had not so far attained the status of a familiar facility in the area.

He said lady doctors of Sakina Hospital were still using DHQ Hospital’s operation theatre for cesareans or other surgical procedures and incubators as no such facility was available at that hospital.

Locals have urged the chief minister to look into the matter and order provision of all requisite gynecological facilities at DHQ Hospital.

They said it was not the first incident of its kind and many women had encountered complexities or even lost their lives owing to unavailability of lady doctors at DHQ Hospital, especially in an area where social hindrances prevented women from getting examined by male doctors.

Staff reporter adds: Punjab Health Secretary Anwar Ahmad Khan has suspended MS Dr Mumtaz Elahi from service on account of death of a pregnant woman allegedly owing to ‘carelessness’ of the staff.

The action was taken on Wajid Shah’s complaint that his pregnant wife died at the main gate of the hospital as there was no doctor available to handle her delivery case and the staff advised him to shift her elsewhere. —Correspondent