KARACHI, Aug 4: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim paid a surprise visit to Civil Hospital Karachi and inspected various sections and wards on Tuesday night.

The chief minister took strict notice of doctors and paramedics who were absent from duty and placed some nurses, a dispenser and a lady doctor under suspension.

Arbab Rahim placed Dr Rukhsana under suspension for her absence from duty for more than a month and directed the hospital authorities to take action against her as per rules and regulations.

Warning was also issued to Dr Shahida, who was found asleep when the chief minister visited the emergency department. She was told to remain alert while on duty.

He ordered suspension of dispenser Mohammed Ali, male nurse Mohammed Saleem, ward boys Yunus and Nazir Abbasi. Shumaila Hasan, a nurse at the emergency ward, was warned for not displaying service card on her uniform.

The chief minister said that he was astonished to see the dilapidated condition of roof of emergency ward and insanitation around. He issued directive for improved sanitary conditions in the hospital and said that no effort be spared in providing best possible medical treatment to patients.

Taking strict notice of hospital staff for using the beds of patients, he said that the hospital should be like a welfare institution where poor people could easily get medical facilities.

He said that the government was spending huge amount in health sector for provision of equipment, machinery, doctors and staff in government hospitals. However, it was unfortunate that proper attention was not being paid on treatment of patients, he added.

Arbab Rahim announced that all steps would be taken to improve the administration of government hospitals and better treatment of poor patients. Later, the adviser to chief minister on health, Faisal Malik visited the Civil Hospital and suspended two doctors, two ward boys, a security guard, and some sweepers for dereliction to their duties.

During his visit at around 2am to the emergency ward of the Civil Hospital, Faisal Malik placed Dr Mustaqeem and Dr Najma Masood under suspension for remaining absent from duty.

Ward boys Younus Durrani and Ahmed Abdullah and a watchman Khuda Bukhsh were also suspended for dereliction to their duties. On the occasion, he directed the administration of the Civil Hospital for taking action against sweepers Yousaf Lal, Kishore Mohan, Derigh Tipo and Irshad Maqbool and suspended them for their continuous absence from service without information.

He asked the hospital staff to be punctual and perform their duties honestly. He warned that negligence in diagnosis and non- provision of medicines to patients would be severely dealt with.

He vowed that he would pay such surprise visits in future and severe departmental action would be carried out against ineligible, irresponsible staff and those misusing their powers. Faisal Malik promised that the staff performing duties with honesty and dedication in health department would be given acknowledgement certificates. -APP/PPI