LARKANA, April 14: A three-member inquiry team, headed by Chandka Medical College Hospital medical superintendent Dr Syed Mehboob Shah, will ascertain the cause of deaths of villagers in the Warah taluka’s Kachho area. This was stated by the adviser to the Sindh chief minister on health, Faisal Malik, while talking to journalists here on Thursday.

The other members of the committee are Dr Iqbal Shah, deputy director, health, and Dr Noor Ahmad Khoso, EDO, health.

The inquiry team will also fix responsibility on officials whose negligence led to the deaths. The team will submit its report in 48 hours.

Mr Malik ordered suspension of Warah Taluka Hospital medical superintendent Dr Farid Khuhawar on charges of negligence, irresponsibility and absence from duty and asked him to report at the health department.

Conceding that the monitoring system in the health department needed improvement, he said the Sindh government was planning public-private partnership in this regard.

He added that a summary had been submitted to the chief minister, proposing that basic health units and centres in remote areas should be run through area people and doctors of the health department.

He also conceded that doctors posted in remote areas were not doing their duties properly.

The adviser directed the Shahdadkot DCO for ensuring supply of sweet water to the affected areas through water tankers.

Briefing the adviser, health officials said presently 88 patients of abdominal diseases were admitted to the Chandka Medical College Hospital.

The adviser, along with the Sindh health secretary and the director-general, health, visited the Civil Hospital and the CMCH and enquired about the health of patients.

The patients told the adviser that they had utilized water of the Hamal Lake and tanks established in the area.