LAHORE, Sept 7: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday suspended a medical officer from service for failing to provide free medicines to a patient in the emergency ward during his surprise visit to the Lahore General Hospital.

The doctor had reportedly asked a patient to purchase medicine from the market instead of providing it to him free of cost from the hospital stock.

Accompanied by health minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed and secretary Javed Malik, the chief minister took serious notice of poor sanitary conditions in the emergency and neurosurgery wards of the hospital, and directed medical superintendent Dr Ijaz Shaikh to improve cleanliness without any fail.

A large number of patients and their attendants surrounded the chief minister and informed him about their problems as he suspended medical officer Dr Jawad Ahmad. He also ordered an inquiry into the matter.

He inquired about medical facilities being provided to patients in the emergency and neuro surgery wards, besides inspecting the under-construction emergency block of the hospital, and directed the officials concerned to ensure provision of all necessary equipment there.

He said Rs165 million had been allocated for the emergency block project, which was in the final stages of completion.

State-of-the-art infrastructure and modern medical equipment had also been provided in the emergency block which also included a burn unit, ICU, children emergency and operation theatre. The new block would become operational next month.

He said provision of free medicines to emergency patients was an important feature of Punjab government’s health strategy, and its implementation would be ensured

He warned that strict action would be taken against those failing to provide an effective medical cover to people.