HYDERABAD, May 22: The adviser to chief minister for health, Nauman Saigal, on Thursday seized the powers of the medical superintendent, Civil Hospital, Hyderabad, Sharafuddin Baloch, for suspending hospital employees, a health official, who was present during the surprise visit of the adviser confirmed.

The adviser also reinstated in service six members of the para-medical staff who were facing serious disciplinary action by the medical superintendent.

The medical superintendent has been directed to correspond with the secretary, health, in connection with disciplinary action against any employee.

Mr Saigal paid a surprise visit to the Civil Hospital Hyderabad and heard the complaints of patients and their attendants.

He visited the drug store of the hospital after some patients complained to him that medicines were not being given to them by the hospital administration.

The adviser went to the mosque to make an announcement through the loudspeaker. But as the sound system was faulty, he announced near the mosque’s door that drugs were available at the hospital and patients could get them.

The para-medical staff reinstated in service included Munnawar Ali Pitafi, Wali Mohammad Khoso, Abid Ali Salawat, Khalid Khan Yusufzai, Rasool Bux Rajpar and Manzoor Ali Abro.

The first two were placed under suspension while the rest were issued final show cause notices about the termination of their services.

A hospital source said that a scuffle had taken place between these staff members and the guards of the medical superintendent’s office. The medical superintendent only suspended the staff and did not take any action against the guards.

Mr Saigal expressed displeasure saying as to why only one-sided action was taken. He wondered as to why these havaldar-type peons were deputed in the office as such a system did not exist in any civil hospital.

He ordered for the removal of such havaldar-type peons from the medical superintendent’s office.

He also noted the complaints of attendants that in the paediatrics ward the registrars forced them to get the tests conducted from the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory.