LAHORE (NNI): The shortage of medicines at Mayo Hospital remains unresolved despite the suspension of its Medical Superintendent (MS) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited the medical facility.
Patients and their attendants continue to express their frustration over the lack of essential medicines and tests.
Patients visiting the hospital are still being forced to purchase medicines from private pharmacies. Additionally, many diagnostic tests, including X-rays and ultrasounds, are scheduled for dates several days later, leaving critical patients in distress.
Sources reveal that Mayo Hospital owes pharmaceutical companies Rs. 3 billion, leading to a suspension of medicine supplies. The companies have refused to resume supplies until the Punjab government clears outstanding payments.
A pharmaceutical company representative stated, “The real culprits behind this crisis are bureaucrats who fail to clear hospital dues.”
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reprimanded the hospital administration over the deteriorating conditions at Mayo Hospital. A high-level meeting was held at the Punjab Health Department to discuss the ongoing crisis.
During the meeting, Punjab Health Minister, Health Secretary, and Vice-Chancellor of King Edward Medical University were present. The suspension of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ahmed Nauman was recommended, along with further action against other administrative officials.
Both the hospital administration and the health department accused each other of negligence. While the hospital management claimed they repeatedly requested funds, the health department maintained they were not informed about the crisis.
Expressing his displeasure, the Punjab Health Minister declared, “The Chief Minister is not happy. I will no longer tolerate any inefficiency.”
It was also decided during the meeting that all public hospitals in Punjab would be inspected soon.
Punjab government has suspended Chief Pharmacist Javed Iqbal following Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s displeasure over the medicine shortage at Mayo Hospital.
Javed Iqbal has been directed to report to the Punjab Health department, while Secretary of Pharmacy Council Zaka-ur-Rehman has been given additional charge as Chief Pharmacist.
A government notification stated that suspensions were being carried out due to the ongoing medicine crisis at the hospital. NNI
