HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad circuit of the Sindh High Court on Wednesday passed a detailed order regarding functioning of Liaquat University Hospital (LUH), banning use of cellphone by doctors and staff during duty hours.

A division bench of Justices Salahuddin Panhwar and Mohammad Iqbal Mahar passed the order on the basis of a report of the court’s deputy registrar, Syed Sabit Ali Shah, who was asked to visit the LUH in the wake of a court petition of a woman, Sakina Solangi, about abduction of her newborn from the hospital.

The order said the medical superintendent would have to ensure that in case of resistance or disobedience of the order,

the same would be referred to the secretary health for action and reported to this court which would issue contempt notice to such doctors and staff while criminal cases could be registered against them for violation of the order.

It said the report would be conveyed to the secretary, who would personally visit the LUH and the fill lacunas mentioned in the report.

It directed the court’s additional, deputy and assistant registrars to pay surprise visits to the LUH on a weekly basis and submit reports for appropriate orders in case of acts of malfeasance.

Machinery and equipment

Referring to report’s para-7, it noted that only eight dialysis machines were working in the LUH. MS would ensure functioning of all machines within 15 days with availability of an expert and the supporting staff within one month, the court said.

About para-8 of the report which refers to availability of only one CT scan machine, it ordered that four to five such machines would be provided along with experts and the supporting staff.

One each MRI and CT scan machines were available in the LUH Jamshoro branch, which were purchased in 1992 and the same are dysfunctional.

Accordingly, it ordered, at least two CT scan machines and four MRI machines would be provided to the LUH Jamshoro branch within three months with experts and staff.

At least four garbage vehicles would be provided to the LUH and two to Jamshoro branch.

The court ordered that two latest and advanced lithotripsy machines would be provided to the LUH and one to Jamshoro branch.

Directive to Wasa

The court also directed the managing director of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), deputy commissioner of Hyderabad and the Hyderabad SSP would ensure that water supply pipeline would be sanctioned only for the hospital as it was tampered with at various places to get illegal connections against illegal gratification.

Such connections would be removed in a week and if there was need to depute guards to look after pipelines, they would be deputed.

It said that for safety of doctors and staff, two police pickets would be set up along with 10 police constables on each picket round the clock under supervision of an inspector, who would be answerable to the MS as well as their superiors for the law and order situation.

The court directed the secretary to make medicines available in the LUH branches with advance stock of three months. In case of shortage, the secretary would be responsible, said the order.

The petitioner had stated that on Oct 8, she gave birth to a baby boy who was brought to the LUH city branch due to bleeding. Later, her family members brought her baby to her in the hospital from where the baby went missing.

She said the hospital staff did not pay heed to their complaints and despite registration of FIR, no progress was made in her case and she was being harassed to withdraw the case.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2016