LAHORE, July 8 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited District Headquarters Hospital Sahiwal without any protocol and inquired after the patients besides children and youth in different wards who were injured due to collapse of a swing besides issuing necessary instructions for their treatment.
Shehbaz Sharif inquired from the injured children about the details of the incident. He expressed his indignation to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital and duty doctors for not wearing the overall and said that it was identity of doctors. He also reviewed cleanliness arrangements in the hospital and directed the administration to improve the situation. The patients informed the Chief Minister that medicines were available to them, however one patient complained that he had purchased medicine from the market.
The Chief Minister took strict notice for the fact and directed the hospital administration that free medicines should be provided to the patients at any cost.
Talking to the children who were injured in the incident and their attendants, Shehbaz Sharif said that the persons responsible would not escape punishment. He also distributed flowers among the injured children and youth and prayed for their recovery.
He took notice of the fact that there was no neuro surgeon in the hospital and directed that immediate steps should be taken for the posting of a neuro surgeon.
The Chief Minister expressed his displeasure that air-conditioners were not functioning in some wards. He said that if air-conditioner in the MS room was functioning why some were not operating in the wards.
Later, the Chief Minister presided over a meeting in the hospital in which the inquiry committee headed by Secretary Local Government presented initial report about the incident. It was told that the swing was not installed with the permission of administration.
The Chief Minister expressed his indignation and said that it showed negligence on the part of administration that the swing was operating without its permission. He said that
administration should have come into action at the time when swing was being installed.
He said that DCO and subordinate staff had shown negligence due to which this incident took place and a number of children were injured.
The Chief Minister directed MD NESPAK to visit the site with his expert engineers and present a report. Shehbaz Sharif also announced financial assistance of Rs 100,000 each for those who were injured.
The Chief Minister strongly reprimanded Sahiwal administration over the setting up of the swing on Eid without permission and described it as criminal negligence.
Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate posting of DCO Sahiwal as OSD as well as suspension of Medical Superintendent District Headquarters Hospital and DDO Human Resource.
Shehbaz Sharif also ordered action against the owner of the swing and front man and said that their names should also be given in the FIR.
Talking to media, the Chief Minister said, “By the grace of Allah Almighty, no life has been lost but he has taken notice of injuries to the children.”
Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr Malik Nadeem Kamran, Commissioner Sahiwal Division Babar Hayat Tarar and other district officers were also present on the occasion.
