A spokesman of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Punjab has said that the issue of protocol duty of lady doctors of Sahiwal Medical College/Hospital, was occurred due to some misunderstanding and lack of communication between local administration and the hospital staff and it has nothing to do with the official policies of Health Department Punjab. The spokesman further said that since the action has been taken against the responsible persons and departmental policy has been devised to avoid such incidents in future. A departmental notification has been issued prohibiting the doctors from any protocol duty. As the remedial measures have already been taken, therefore, any effort aimed at leveling allegations or agitation is totally uncalled for.
The spokesman further said that as soon the matter was brought to the notice of Secretary Health Najam Ahmed Shah, he issued immediate instructions to all the heads of medical colleges/health institutions that no medical officer or women medical officer would perform protocol duty and the sanctity of medical profession and the white coat would be safeguarded. The spokesman said that whole nation and the doctors community very well knows that the elements who are trying to misguide the doctors by making negative propaganda, are same elements who are wanted by anti-corruption and FIA in various cases and it is a great embracement for the doctors’ community. The spokesman said that the majority of doctors’ community believes in serving the ailing humanity and everyone knows that a handful of anti-social elements are trying to disturb the working of hospitals by creating hurdles in provision of treatment facilities. He further said that leveling baseless allegations against one person by a so called corrupt organization reflects their mental degradation. The spokesman further said that government has always safeguarded the rights of doctors’ community as well as welfare of the patients.
