| Doctors are still working in a hostile... |
| Wednesday, 27 August 2008 | |
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Last year, Dr Mubashir A. Shaikh, professor of clinical pathology and principal of College of Medical Technology (CMT) at the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) was gunned down near his clinic in Manzoor Colony. Investigators blamed his death on sectarian violence, and claim the case has been resolved. According to them, the killer belonged to a village in Jhang district, the village in Punjab where Shaikh himself was from. “The police informed us that they had arrested the killer,” said Dr Samir Qureshi, part of a three-member committee of senior doctors formed by the JPMC administration to pursue the case. Quoting the Deputy Inspector General who supervised the investigation, Qureshi said a dental surgeon was gunned down in Quaidabad, in which his driver was allegedly involved. Upon arrest, the driver confessed to killing Dr Mubashir A. Shaikh. The suspect informed investigators that he, along with accomplices, had killed Shaikh because of his alleged sectarian affiliation. “We miss him. He left us in his most productive years, and could have given us much more,” said Dr Syed Mujib, a friend of the late doctor’s. According to him, doctors are now concerned about the risks they take while performing their duty. After Iqbal was killed, many doctors held demonstrations protesting the lack of security. Dr Mubashir Shaikh was killed soon after violent clashes leaving three dead broke out among student activists of the CMT. The friends he left behind describe him as being a down to earth man, a trait exemplified in his reluctance to attend parties at five-star hotels. What drove Shaikh was his vision and desire to serve humanity. As a tribute to him, the clinical laboratory at the JPMC has been named ‘Dr Mubashir Shaikh Clinical Pathology Laboratory.’ The CMT was established in 2001. So far, four batches, each comprising 30 students, have passed their examinations. During the clashes, the college remained closed for a considerable period of time. The doctors’ old hostel and Sindh Medical College’s boys’ hostel were also vacated. Dr Syed Owais Ahmed, now principal of the college and head of the clinical pathology department, said that an entrance test for admission is being considered at the CMT to ensure that only those who are serious students will attend. Ahmed had worked with Iqbal for eight years at the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at the JPMC for eight years, and like other doctors, had words of praise for him. “We will always remember him as a good professional and noble man,” he said. Dr Shoaib Mir, Executive Director, JPMC, said there was a three-tier security at the hospital, with Rangers permanently deployed at the surgical block. Apart from this, a police picket has also been established. The JPMC had hired the services of the National Police Foundation (NPF), until their contract ended recently. A 10-member committee has been formed to appoint a new security firm since, according to a source, the JPMC was “not satisfied” with the performance of the NPF. Talking of the lack of security, Mir pointed out that the hospital is an open place where approximately 3,000 patients visit daily, along with attendants and relatives. Mir said that recently, the relatives of the patient beat up a doctor and broke his arm. The hospital administration lodged an FIR against the suspects, who were arrested. “No stone will be left unturned to provide protection to doctors,” he vowed. Not all doctors are optimistic. “Doctors are still working in a hostile environment,” said a senior doctor who did not wish to be named. “We are a vulnerable segment of the society, as anybody can come to the casualty or ward.” Another senior doctor lamented that those with power “always get away with anything” and that doctors cannot function in such an environment. “There should be a platform for doctors to air grievances,” he said. “The respect and security of doctors is imperative. Medical students should be given good education and facilities. Without providing this, the condition of hospitals cannot improve.” He feels that groups with vested interests, such as medicine stores and laboratories not related to hospitals, create problems for public sector hospitals through money, pressure, and political influence. |
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