Deaths of patients at PIC MSs of six hospitals asked to appear before court

The Supreme Court of Pakistan here on Monday adjourned to February 22 the suo motu proceedings against deaths of patients in Punjab Institute of Cardiology and strike of doctors and directed the medical superintendents of six hospitals in the city to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
The court while proceeding with the suo motu action observed that it was not suitable for the doctors to refuse provision of medical treatment to patients. The court observed that if they had any problem with the government they should approach the court and it might help them resolve their issue. Earlier, a representative of the young doctors appeared before the court and contended that the Punjab government did not fulfil its commitments made with the doctors so they had to go on strike for acceptance of their demands, which was their legal right.
The court observed that due to their strike, lives of the patients were put at risk, and also asked the health secretary, who was present in the courtroom, about the facilities provided by the government to the affected patients. He informed the court that the provincial government of Punjab was providing every possible facility free of cost to the patients and now they were better recovering. The court adjourned the proceedings directing the doctors to present a detailed report about the action taken and the conditions of the hospitals.