It is appalling indeed that doctors and paramedical staff smoke and chew pan, chalia and gutka, etc during the duty hours. And the institution, which has taken notice of this unpleasant habit, is none other than representing the doctors themselves.
Honorary General Secretary of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Karachi, Dr S.M. Qaisar Sajjad, in a letter to the Sindh Health Secretary on May 26, has expressed deep concern over the non-implementation of Prohibition of Smoking Ordinance 2002.
According to him, in public sector hospitals, patients and their attendants have been found smoking and eating pan, chalia and gutka within the hospital premises and even in wards. Even in all government offices, staff is found indulging in this obnoxious habit.
In his letter, he pointed out that all means of smoking and eating pan, chalia and gutka caused serious health problems, especially in young generation. Carcinoma and submucous fibrosis is one of the main results of these habits.
"It is alarming that apart from patients and their attendants, doctors and paramedical staff smoke during duty hours. An ordinance was passed in 2002 banning smoking at public places, public transport and also on their advertisement, but its implementation is still awaited in true sense," he said.
The medical professionals, especially the doctors, should not smoke as a matter of professional ethics as they played most important role in the community, he said, adding: "We believe that the government is responsible for the implementation of the ordinance."
He suggested that a ban should be imposed on indulging in these habits in all public sector hospitals/clinics in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, and added the medical superintendents, directors and in charges of the hospitals and clinics could play a major role in ensuring that this menace was eliminated from their premises.