Negligence and Absence Exposed: Crisis in Attock's Rural Hospitals

Strategic Insights -

Tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals in Pindigheb and Jand, Attock district, have faced a series of critical incidents, including the suspension of medical officials due to negligence, absence from duty, and submitting false statements. On September 2, a patient, Aliya Jahanzaib, was referred to the labour room at Pindigheb hospital, where no female doctor was present, leading to the patient being shifted to a private maternity clinic, where the baby was delivered. An inquiry found that the female doctor on night duty had left the hospital and returned after the patient had already departed.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two medical officials, a medical officer, and a charge nurse, were suspended at Pindigheb THQ hospital for negligence, absence from duty, and submitting false statements related to an incident in the labour room.
  • The female doctor on night duty left the hospital at 12:12am and returned at 2:30am, despite her written statement claiming otherwise, confirmed by CCTV footage.
  • The medical superintendent termed the statements "false and misleading" and ordered the immediate removal of both officials from duty.
  • The District Health Authority Attock has forwarded the matter for further action.
  • A similar incident in July resulted in the death of a newborn girl after her mother delivered en route to Jand THQ hospital, prompting the suspension of a medical officer.
  • Pregnant women and newborns are often neglected due to a lack of ambulance services and absence of an operating theatre at the hospital.
  • A decade-old Mother and Child Healthcare (MCH) centre in Jand has remained dysfunctional, with staff drawing salaries while the facility lay unattended.

Statistics:

  • A newborn girl died after her mother delivered en route to Jand THQ hospital in July as a result of neglect and inadequate emergency coverage.
  • The Jand Mother and Child Healthcare (MCH) centre has been dysfunctional for over a decade, with staff salaries continuing to be drawn despite the facility being unused.
  • The patient, Aliya Jahanzaib, waited for nearly an hour at Pindigheb hospital before being shifted to a private maternity clinic.
  • The female doctor on night duty was absent from the hospital for 1 hour and 18 minutes.

Sources:

  • " Hospital admin removes two officials for negligence" – Possibly published in a local newspaper, but publication and date not specified
  • Quote from Barrister Azan Awan, social activist