LARKANA: The Chief Secretary, Sindh, Mumtaz Ali Shah, has issued final show-cause notices to two doctors of Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, who failed to submit reply to the show-cause notices issued to them earlier.
These doctors include Dr. Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Additional Medical Superintendent (BPS-19) and Dr. Rabail Noonari, Chief Medical officer (BPS-19), presently posted to look after the charge of Chief Casualty Officer, a post of BPS-20. The final show-cause said that both the doctors have nothing to say in their defense and are guilty of charges. It informed them that it is proposed to impose upon them the major penalty of “Dismissal from Service” under Rule-4(1)(b)(iv) of the Sindh Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973. They have been asked to submit their replies within seven days.
Both doctors were found involved in misconduct in performing their government duties during treatment of dog-bitten 6-year old Master Hasnain son of Ghulam Hussain Bughio, resident of Habib Bughio village, located near Larkana. He was shifted to CMCH on November 14, 2019, where after initial treatment was rushed to Karachi. The child succumbed to injuries in the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) after 28 days.
After his death, an inquiry committee was constituted which observed that “very weak data management system was observed, bio data of vital signs, general examination, description of injuries, treatment given and referral process was not recorded on the data tool. “No Consultant except the maxillofacial surgeon had attended the patient”. “Only MLOs/SMOs working in sub-specialities had attended the case”.
“No Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were observed during the management including the infection prevention protocols”. “The first aid management was given in the Casualty in presence of mob of irrelevant persons including media persons. Most of the time the doctors, media personnel and other people including the relatives of the patient were found discussing referral of the case to Karachi”. “The stock register was not maintained as a valid stock record”. “The Immunoglobulin for Rabies was shown without the date of expiry and batch number”. “Sources of receiving and delivery were not properly documented”. “Duty roaster and record of leave not maintained”. “Consultant roaster indicating the responsible specialist for the subject on the emergency duty was not available”. “Reconstruction surgical departments like plastic surgery and vascular surgery were not available”.
Both the doctors were suspended on 18th March 2020 for negligence in performing their government duties and S and GADC directed the CMCH Medical Superintendent on 15th September 2020 to relieve them but he didn’t and they continue to work even today at CMCH. Still action is awaited against doctors of NICH where the boy expired after remaining indoor for 28 days, experts opined.