20 child deaths spark stern action from CM Maryam Nawaz

(Web Desk): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday visited the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Pakpattan following the deaths of 20 children last month.

CM Maryam directed the registration of a criminal negligence case and the arrest of the CEO Health Pakpattan and Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr. Adnan Ghaffar.

The Chief Minister arrived at DHQ Hospital Pakpattan, where patients and their families voiced numerous complaints regarding mismanagement, negligence, and poor conditions in the hospital. In response to these complaints, Maryam Nawaz took strict action and ordered the arrest of the CEO Health and MS Dr. Adnan Ghaffar on charges of criminal negligence.

She further directed the appointment of a new MS from Sahiwal to DHQ Hospital Pakpattan.

During her visit, patients and their families also complained about being charged Rs50 to 100 for parking. On receiving reports of overcharging, she ordered the arrest of the parking contractor and the in-charge.

Maryam Nawaz also terminated three lab technicians for colluding with a private lab and ordered the sealing of three private labs that were allegedly operating in collaboration with the hospital staff.

The Chief Minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Pakpattan to relinquish his charge and ordered an audit of the hospital equipment.

She expressed anger over the fact that while air conditioners were running in the offices, they were turned off in the wards and for patients. She ordered the implementation of a Code Red and Code Blue system in all government hospitals.

Maryam Nawaz personally spoke with patients and their attendants in the hospital’s waiting area to inquire about the availability of medicines and the quality of treatment.

She remarked that tough decisions are necessary to hold people accountable. “Medicines are available in the store, yet patients are being made to buy them from outside,” she said. “We are allocating Rs100 billion for medicines—why are the people not receiving them?” She expressed displeasure over the lack of announcements about free medicine availability at DHQ.

She further said, “If you make the effort, the truth becomes evident. One round of the hospital was enough to understand the situation.” She noted that 90% of patients were complaining about being forced to purchase medicine from outside the hospital.

“Necessary medical equipment is lying unused in storage,” she said, expressing dismay. “The real criminals are those who fail to perform their duties in hospitals and institutions. There is no shortage of doctors and nurses—what’s missing is the sense of service.”

She warned, “You may escape me, but how will you escape God’s wrath? Criminal negligence is also a form of murder—it doesn't require a weapon.”

She also ordered restrictions on the use of mobile phones by doctors and paramedical staff during duty hours and instructed the implementation of a pager system for communication in hospitals.

Maryam Nawaz inspected various wards, the hospital store, and laboratories. She also visited individual patients in the wards to ask about their condition.

It should be noted that 20 children died within a week at the DHQ Hospital Pakpattan. An inquiry into the incident was previously ordered. According to media reports, between June 16 and June 22, 20 child deaths were reported at the hospital, including five on June 19 alone in the children's ward.

The inquiry report stated that the MS failed to fulfill his administrative duties and that hospital consultants were not devoting sufficient time to patient care.

It further revealed that required medical equipment was available in the hospital stores but had not been put to use. Delays in treatment were attributed to the apathy of consultants, doctors, and hospital staff. Specialist doctors were not conducting night rounds, and although pediatric incubators were available, they were not functional.

The report also noted that DHQ Hospital Pakpattan was not fully adhering to the rules and regulations set by the Healthcare Commission.

It also found that emergency protocols for patients were not being followed, and that the staff responsible for critical care were not adequately trained.