NAROWAL: Protesters, including the relatives of a rickshaw driver who died in the emergency ward of the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital here on Wednesday, because of alleged negligence of the doctors, shattered windowpanes of the healthcare facility, demanding action against the medics and paramedical staff concerned.

Motorcycle-rickshaw driver Ahsan Nazir (30) was shifted to the DHQ hospital, along with two injured passengers, Babar Bashir (32) and Yeswa Waris (36), by Rescue 1122 staff following an accident near Dongian stop onNarowal-Pasrur Road.

According to Hurmat Ali, the spokesperson of Rescue 1122, the rescue team immediately shifted the injured persons to the DHQ hospital after providing them first aid.

As per relatives of the deceased and eyewitnesses, when Ahsan and other injured persons were brought to the hospital in a critical condition, the doctors in the emergency ward paid no attention to them.

Attendants Munir and Karamat Ali, said that ignoring the severely injured patients lying in the trauma ward of the hospital, the duty doctor and staff kept gossiping and using their mobile phones.

They alleged that Ahsan died due to lack of attention of duty doctors and staff and for not getting timely treatment. Eyewitnesses Ikram Faisal and Murtaza Ali said the duty doctors declared Ahsan ‘dead’ without proper check-up and giving treatment. They said that the patient vomited several times after he was declared ‘dead’ by the doctors. He later actually died because of doctors’ lack of attention, they added.

They said when the relatives of the deceased protested over the negligence resulting in Ahsan’s death, the doctors and paramedics misbehaved and used abusive language against them.

At this the protesters got further enraged and they shattered the windowpanes of the hospital’s emergency ward.

Dr Afzal Rajput, medical superintendent of the DHQ hospital, did not respond to the phone calls made for his response, while local YDA head Dr Rehan Gauhar said he would give his stance later.

Dr Naveed Haider, Chief Executive Officer, District Health Authority, Narowal, said he has sought a report on the incident from the DHQ hospital MS.

The Narowal deputy commissioner was also not available for his stance on the incident.

The Narowal DC said he had sought a report from the hospital MS for further action.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2024