JPMC demands Police and Rangers pickets at COVID-19 ward

KARACHI: The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) administration has demanded the Sindh government to establish Police and Rangers pickets outside the Coronavirus Ward to avoid incidents of violence in the future.

As per the report sent to the Secretary Health Sindh by the Executive Director of the JPMC, a patient named Abdul Salam was admitted in the COVID-19 Ward of the JPMC a couple of days ago after being referred from the Dow University of Health Sciences, Ojha Campus, as a suspected case of COVID-19. His PCR test was sent to the JPMC laboratory. Unfortunately, the patient was in a critical state and expired shortly after arriving at the JPMC.

The attendants of the patient vandalized the hospital to take over the body of the deceased forcefully. The loss of property caused additional mental and emotional stress to the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff. Police and Rangers were called to diffuse the situation, and the SHO Saddar also lodged an FIR.

It is requested that the SOPs regarding handing over the body to the patient’s attendants may be reviewed and revised urgently in the best interest of institutions. Detaining the bodies of the deceased poses a great threat to the DHO, his representative, Area Police, as well as the Edhi Foundation.

Arrangements must be made for Police and Rangers pickets to be posted outside the COVID-19 wards of all hospitals to avoid any such unforeseen situations in the future.

-MN Report