UMERKOT: Sindh Director General Health formed a two-member inquiry committee on Sunday to probe into the death of Irfan Masih in civil hospital due to negligence of doctors.
DG Heath Akhlaq Ahmed visited the deceased’s family to offer condolences and visited the hospital as well to go through the situation in person. Having seen the pathetic condition of the hospital and controversies in doctors’ statements, he formed a two member inquiry committee to unearth the truth pertaining to medical service for Irfan Masih at civil hospital Umerkot within three days. The committee is comprised of Dr. Hemraj, Director Health, and Umar Kaka, Assistant Director Mirpurkhas. A cousin of Irfan, Liaquat, stated that police had not arrested the 5 people nominated in the case and delaying tactics were being used for the two days to suppress the family.
He added that doctors did not treat Irfan by claiming that he was so unclean that they could not touch him. He lamented that doctors caredfor themselves alone and neglected their duty. Meanwhile, Usman Aijaz Bajwa SSP Umerkot talking to the Daily Times said that raids had been underway to arrest the five accused and soon they would be in custody. Dr. Ali AzamKhoso of the Pakistan Medical Association said they would file a petition at the High Court as police did not seek permission – which was required in the case of medical officers before the arrest of the medical superintendent. He denied negligence on the part of doctors, declaring that the patient was brought dead to the hospital. A civil society activist, Mir Hassan Arisar believed that civil hospital Umerkot had failed to provide adequate services to its patients and the discriminative attitude of doctors was common as they did not have any’moral’ education. He questioned the committee, adding that the health department was not objective, so it would not give fair decision. He asserted that other members from civil society and the administration should be included into the committee in order to make it impartial. The Chairman of Umerkot municipal committee, Khalid Siraj offered his condolences to Irfan Mashish’s family and assured them that he would support their case and would give them financial assistance.
