CM suspends chief pharmacist and MS Mayo Hospital ,warn CEO Dr Asad Aslam

Lahore : Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar paid a surprise visit to Mayo Hospital here on Wednesday where he met with patients and their attendants in the emergency ward and inspected the medical facilities provided to the patients.

He inquired the patients and their attendants about the provision of medical facilities and availability of free medicines in the emergency and expressed his strong indignation over the condition of CNIC for wheelchair facility.

He also reprimanded the chief pharmacist over the complaints of some patients and their attendants about obtaining medicines from outside.

The Chief Minister expressed his displeasure over non-presence of signboards for the guidance of patients and their attendants in different wards. I have been saddened over the condition of emergency of such a big hospital and the condition of CNIC for providing the wheelchair to the patients is simply uncalled-for.

The wheelchairs should be provided without any condition of producing CNICs because these are meant for the patients, he added.

The Chief Minister also inspected the pharmacy of the emergency ward and inspected the provision of free medicines to the patients.

He inquired the hospital administration that if patients in the emergency ward have to acquire medicines from the outside then what are you doing here? He made it clear that patients should be provided with all medicines free of cost in the emergency ward and the complaint of non-provision of free medicines is totally unacceptable.

He directed to keep the CT scan machines fully functional and added that every patient should be given full attention and qualitative medical care be provided in the emergency ward.

The Chief Minister also expressed his strong displeasure over non-functionality of patients’ lift. There is a dire need to bring much improvement in the emergency of Mayo Hospital. I have personally monitored the situation and I am not satisfied with the condition of medical facilities provided to the patients. Action will be initiated against those responsible for negligence and laxity, he added. The Chief Minister also inquired the doctors about their problems.

The Chief Minister said that the situation of Mayo Hospital’s emergency is not satisfying in any way as providing quality healthcare facilities is the fundamental responsibility of the hospital administration. The patients and their attendants have lodged complaints about non-provision of free medicines and the condition of CNIC for wheelchair facility is also incorrect. The lift was also not operational for the patients, he added.

The Chief Minister observed that redressal of patients’ complaints is the responsibility of hospital administration and reiterated that hospitals will be turned into proper treatment facilities. I am personally monitoring the hospitals’ situation and gaps will be filled. The patients will be provided the facility of qualitative treatment facilities and the journey of change has been started from hospitals, he added.          

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has taken immediate action on mismanagement, showing negligence from duties and the complaints of patients and the attendants during his visit to Mayo Hospital and CEO/MS Mayo Hospital Dr. Tahir Khalil has been suspended under PEEDA Act for showing dereliction of duty and mismanagement. He has been removed from the post and directed to report to Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department.

Similarly, drug controller/chief pharmacist Mayo Hospital Irshad Hussain has also been suspended under PEEDA act for showing dereliction of duty and mismanagement.He is also directed to report back to the department.

CEO Mayo Hospital Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan has been issued the warning for showing poor performance. He has directed to improve the hospital management for providing the best facilities to the patients.

Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education also accompanied the Chief Minister.