Dr Amir examines a suspected coronavirus affected person on the Yar Hussain Kind-D Hospital. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SWABI: Making rounds on social media, a picture of a Swabi based mostly physician inspecting sufferers carrying a plastic bag has raised some critical considerations concerning the state of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s healthcare system.That includes Dr Amir Khan, the viral {photograph} comes within the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has created a dearth of Private Protecting Gear (PPE) within the province; leaving healthcare officers engaged on the frontlines on the highest threat of an infection.
The picture, which first appeared on microblogging service twitter a few days in the past, has since then amassed 1000’s of feedback and shares throughout a number of social media platforms. The place sure feedback appear to advise the physician to obtain PPE by his personal means, the bulk have raised questions concerning the province’s lack of concern for its healthcare employees.
Talking solely to The Categorical Tribune, Amir Khan, who holds a primary medical diploma from Kohat Medical Faculty and a specialty from England, shared that his act was a type of protest towards the dearth of medical amenities in his hometown of Swabi. “I personally have enough resources to procure required safety equipment like PPE, sanitisers and masks from my own pocket but I shouldn’t have to,” mentioned Khan. “As taxpayers, it is our right to be provided with all necessary medical safety equipment by the government but we are to fend for ourselves in these difficult times, which is why I have been compelled to wear a polybag on face to register my protest,” he added.
When requested concerning the authorities’s initiatives for offering healthcare employees with the required protecting gear amid the pandemic, the now viral physician shared that every one his efforts to succeed in the officers involved have to this point gone in useless. “My district has over 26 Basic Health Units but none of them have enough doctors and neither do they have basic protective gear for the staff and technicians working there. Whereas, my appeals to the super intendent of the district health office for the provision of PPE to category D hospitals has fallen on deaf ears.”
“While many of my colleagues have cashed in on the opportunity to go work in bigger cities like Peshawar, I have remained committed to serving the people of my hometown. I have never worked for private clinic or offered consultation from personal facility and have taken it as my responsibility to serve the needy through this hospital. But in recent times, the government has compelled me to don a plastic bag in the absence of surgical masks and register my protest while also serving my people,” he expressed.
Member Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Meeting Samar Haroon Bilour being attentive to the problem, mentioned in a put up on Twitter “This is seriously horrible, have doctors not been given PPEs yet? The provincial govt seems to want to endanger not only the Awaam but also the medical staff because of its weak policies. If the government has [sic] not changed its policies, the consequences will be very serious,” she tweeted on Thursday.
Nonetheless, it’s reported that following social media outcry, the newly appointed district well being officer visited the Yar Hussain Hospital, the place the now viral physician practices. Sources reveal that bins of surgical masks and gloves had been offered to the hospital employees previous to the district well being officer’s go to and later a proof was sought from Dr Khan.
Then again, when contacted, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa well being division revealed that the grievance was flagged by the honorable minister as quickly because it was obtained and instant motion has been taken. “Protection of healthcare staff is our top most priority and we are trying our best to fill the gaps by procuring equipment and providing them to hospitals,” Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa well being division spokesperson knowledgeable The Categorical Tribune.
Printed in The Categorical Tribune, March 27th, 2020.
