MINGORA, Sept 1: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health Shaukat Ali Yousafzai suspended the medical superintendent (MS) of Saidu Sharif hospital for sending patients to private laboratories for dengue test.
The minister ordered the suspension of the MS during his surprise visit to the hospital on Sunday. MPA Muhibullah and Fazal Hakim also accompanied the minister on the occasion.
According to a handout, the minister issued the order when the relatives of patients complained that they were sent to the private clinical laboratories for dengue test. The people complained that they paid Rs750 for the test.
Mr Yousafzai assured the patients that they would be tested free of cost in the government laboratories. He added that no negligence on the part of doctors would be tolerated.
The minister also ordered transfer of laboratory technicians from peripheral healthcare units to Saudi hospital to facilitate the patients.
The Saidu hospital MS, when contacted, said that they had maintained proper record of dengue tests and other diagnostic examinations. He said that he didnt know about the directives regarding his suspension as he was on leave.
Meanwhile, at least 155 more residents of Swat, mostly from Mingora, tested positive for dengue taking the number of affected persons to 1,600 in the district.
According to Dr Shah Dawran, the focal person for emergency control room at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, dengue virus had been reported in 1,600 residents of the district since the disease erupted in the area last month. He said that 847 patients were discharged after completion of their treatment while 155 new cases were reported on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the health minister termed the outbreak of dengue a disaster and urged joint efforts to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.
Talking to journalists at civil hospital in Kabal here on Sunday, he said that dengue was a natural disaster. He asked people to fight the disease collectively.
Source: http://dawn.com/news/1039974/hospital-chief-suspended-for-sending-dengue-patients-to-private-labs
The minister ordered the suspension of the MS during his surprise visit to the hospital on Sunday. MPA Muhibullah and Fazal Hakim also accompanied the minister on the occasion.
According to a handout, the minister issued the order when the relatives of patients complained that they were sent to the private clinical laboratories for dengue test. The people complained that they paid Rs750 for the test.
Mr Yousafzai assured the patients that they would be tested free of cost in the government laboratories. He added that no negligence on the part of doctors would be tolerated.
The minister also ordered transfer of laboratory technicians from peripheral healthcare units to Saudi hospital to facilitate the patients.
The Saidu hospital MS, when contacted, said that they had maintained proper record of dengue tests and other diagnostic examinations. He said that he didnt know about the directives regarding his suspension as he was on leave.
Meanwhile, at least 155 more residents of Swat, mostly from Mingora, tested positive for dengue taking the number of affected persons to 1,600 in the district.
According to Dr Shah Dawran, the focal person for emergency control room at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, dengue virus had been reported in 1,600 residents of the district since the disease erupted in the area last month. He said that 847 patients were discharged after completion of their treatment while 155 new cases were reported on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the health minister termed the outbreak of dengue a disaster and urged joint efforts to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.
Talking to journalists at civil hospital in Kabal here on Sunday, he said that dengue was a natural disaster. He asked people to fight the disease collectively.
Source: http://dawn.com/news/1039974/hospital-chief-suspended-for-sending-dengue-patients-to-private-labs
