Employees of Darul Sehat concerned over hospital’s future

By
Khawar Khan
|

KARACHI: Employees of Darul Sehat have expressed concern over the future of the hospital after it was sealed following the death of 9-month-old Nashwa.

Nashwa suffered brain damage after she was allegedly administered an excessive quantity of an injection at the Darul Sehat Hospital.

During a news conference on Monday, the hospital’s administration said there was sadness on the issue of Nashwa’s death.

“Employees involved in the death of the minor have been expelled while Executive Director Dr Shahzad Alam was forced to resign. The hospital is also working on the recommendations of the Health Care Commission,” said Dr Naveed Rashid Qureshi, principal of the dental college at Darul Sehat.

According to Dr Qureshi, on April 10 Nashwa’s father Qaiser Ali prohibited his daughter from being transferred to another hospital. “He [Qaiser Ali] said he was satisfied with the treatment at the hospital.”

Dr Qureshi added that five days later Nashwa was shifted to another hospital and her father’s allegation of Darul Sehat not having an ICU was baseless.

Dr Qureshi told reporters that Darul Sehat has been providing medical facilities for the 25 years and over the last year over 100,000 patients visited the hospital.

“The hospital has been registered from Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, College of Physician and Surgeon Pakistan, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, High Education Commission, University of Karachi and Ziauddin University and Healthcare Commission,” he added.

He further said that the administration of the hospital was fully cooperating with the committee formed by Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah and the Health Care Commission.

Dr Qureshi was critical of how the situation was handled, stating that such incidents take place in every public and private hospital not just in Karachi but globally.

“The hospital administration is appealing to authorities to review their decision and restore services.”