Daily Times

Sindh Health Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi has constituted a three-member committee to probe the complaint received by him from the Principal, Chandka Medical College (CMC). The committee is headed by Naeemuddin Mirani, Additional Secretary, Health Department, Dr. Aijaz Khanzada OSD and Zulfiqar Dars, Section Officer. The committee shall examine the complaint and records, fix responsibility and submit its report within seven days.

The Principal, Chandka Medical College (CMC) Larkana, Prof. Kheo Ram Dholia, in his complaint had warned to withdraw professors and consultants from working if PPEs are not provided to professors and consultants along with resolution of other vital problems. In his letter Prof. Dholia complained against the “non-cooperation of Medical Superintendent (MS), Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH)” which was sent to the provincial Health Secretary.

Prof Dholia said in his letter that “since couple of months we have been observing and receiving many complaints from professors and consultants of College on grave issues which include non-provision of required medicine to the patients and operation theaters, non-availability and non-functioning of OT instruments/equipment including autoclave and air-conditioners to conduct operations in any emergency, non-provision of PPEs to professors/consultants working in wards and providing services to OPDs, no cleanliness overall in the hospital and non-provision of administrative support in maintaining SOPs pertaining to COVID-19”.

Prof. Dholia, who is also head of Surgery Department, further wrote that “most of above issues are chronic and void of any solution on the hand of CMCH MS but their gravity has increased to an unavoidable situation”. “Many consultants have appeared to be positive with COVID-19 because of non-cooperation of MS, non-availability of PPEs and lack arrangements as per SOPs required at hospital in pandemic”, he further wrote. Prof. Dholia further alleged in his letter that “numerous meetings and requests have been made to him but all went in vague”.

“He not only turns a deaf ear to critical issues but responds awkwardly, rudely, and irresponsibly even in these (times) of national emergency”, HOD surgery further wrote.

Before winding up, Prof. Dholia said that “now circumstances have risen to the level of fear and uncertainty among patients and consultants adding without availability of required medicines, equipment, especially PPEs and safety measures during pandemic, we may face giant problem including work withdrawal of professors and consultants”.

He requested the health secretary to take necessary action to avoid any unpleasant incident or loss at workplace. Copies of this letter have also been sent to all Deans of Faculties, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), Deputy Commissioner, SMBBMU Registrar, PS to health minister and vice chancellor.

On the other hand, leaders of Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association CMCH Chapter, in a statement issued by Abdul Jabbar Narejo, spokesman, have also supported the CMC principal’s letter. They said that PPEs and sanitizers are not being denied to the doctors, nurses and paramedics posted to work in the wards due to which several doctors and paramedics have been infected with the viral disease COVID-19. They demanded supply of these safety kits.

Meanwhile, leaders of Young Consultants Association including Dr. Ihsanullah Malik, Dr. Shaista Hiffaz Abro, Dr. Zahid Ali Shaikh, Dr. Fahad Jibran Siyal, Dr. Ghulam Abbas Qadri and others while addressing news conference at local press club also had alleged that the CMCH MS, Dr. Ershad Kazmi, is not ready to provide us PPE hence our lives have been put at great risk. They said they are fighting against COVID-19 as front-line soldiers but in this war PPE facilities are being denied to them by the MS.

They further alleged that there are neither medicines for CMCH indoor patients nor operation theater instruments nor OPD slips, nor papers for laboratory reports nor even cleanliness due to which poor patients are suffering very badly. They said that many of our colleagues have contracted the deadly coronavirus but even than PPEs are not being delivered. They said they feel like sending soldiers to borders to fight war without weapons.

They claimed that according to SMBBMU and LUMH Act, hospital administration has to supply everything but Dr. Kazmi despite having knowledge (of the Act) is constantly avoiding to provide us all required facilities. They claimed that they have procured safety material from their own pockets. They further claimed that they are running OPDs daily without safety kits by putting their lives under threat despite the fact that local transmission COVID-19 cases are constantly rising in Larkana.

They urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take notice of the issues and order provision of PPEs so that they could be able to discharge their responsibilities without any fear. These consultants are working under Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU).