Patients continue to suffer at PIC on 2nd day

Medical services at all departments of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) except Coronary Care Unit (CCU) Thursday remained suspended, a day after the lawyers ransacked the PIC.

All the medical tests and operations were postponed while work at emergency ward and Out-Patient Department (OPD) was also stopped. The critical patients at the PIC were shifted to other hospitals.

The Young Doctors Association, Grand Health Alliance and other representative bodies of doctors and paramedics have announced protest against the Wednesday's incident.

The doctors and paramedics stayed away from their duties and demanded protection to them at their workplaces.

Security personnel were deployed at the PIC and other health facilities in Lahore to meet any untoward incident.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Thursday visited the PIC, to analyze all aspects of attack at the institution.

Addressing the meeting, the Health Minister assured that government is siding with the doctors that became victim of torture; the government would extend financial assistance after estimating the damage caused to government properties and doctors' vehicles.

She reiterated her support to the doctors' community and slammed the vandalism at the PIC. "The lawyers have challenged the writ of the government by stopping the treatment of patients. All the criminals involved in attack on the PIC will be brought to justice," she said, adding: "I and other ministers were made victim of torture and we are standing with the doctors' community; the doctors and patients will be provided complete protection in the government hospitals." Additional Secretary Dr Asif Tufail, MS PIC Dr Muhammad Ameer, Chief Cardiologist Dr Saqib Shafi and faculty members attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday telephoned Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan and took details of the shocking incident of the clash between doctors and lawyers at the PIC.

The premier expressed regret over the tragedy and asked about wellbeing of the minister as he was manhandled by the charged lawyers when he attempted to calm down the situation. He appreciated Chohan for keeping watchful eye on the incident and reaching out at the spot to resolve the dispute. "Nobody could be allowed to attack the hospitals and the government was responsible for protection of every segment of the society," the PM said, adding: "The PIC incident is shameful; the strategy of the Punjab government has saved the situation from deteriorating further."

The PM directed the Punjab government to take concrete steps for preventing such incidents in future.

On the other hand, the Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday said those who attacked the PIC in Lahore will not escape punishment as vandalism at the hospital is beyond bearing.

Usman Buzdar said that inquiry has been initiated of the unfortunate incident. He also expressed condolences to the families of three patients who lost their lives owing to the violent clash between lawyers and hospital staff. He stressed that identification process of the suspects has been initiated with the help of CCTV footages.

Provincial Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Social Welfare Raja Basharat has urged doctors and lawyers not to allow incidents such as the PIC in future.

Raja Basharat said that yesterday's incident was viewed by all sections of society as disrespectful, so our educated class should always be patient. He said that the government was taking action against the miscreants who took the law and would punish those responsible.

Provincial Minister for Information, Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan on Thursday said the government would set an example for those who tried to take the law into their own hands and those who tried will be held accountable soon.

"We will identify all those black sheep in lawyers' who were involved in the recent inhuman act," he said, adding: "Imran Khan would never tolerate the lawlessness in the country at any costs and he ordered for strict action against all negative elements who involved."

He also appealed the doctors to keep emergencies of the hospitals open as it wasn't a mistake of the patients.