LAHORE; At least three patients died and more than 25 doctors were injured on Wednesday, when a group of angry lawyers stormed the emergency ward of Punjab Institute of Cardiology, vandalized public property, set a police vehicle on fire and attacked provincial minister Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan.
“The lawyers smashed the mirrors, destroyed medicines and broke machinery in the emergency ward,” said Grand Health Alliance Chairperson Dr Salman Haseeb. “They tortured the paramedic staff and stopped operations midway.”
“We have been trying to contact the police but none of our calls were attended”, he said.
People at the hospital have been forced out into the lawns and patients have been left unattended. Doctors, paramedic staff and nurses either escaped or have been locked inside rooms.
“At least 12 patients have died and more than 25 doctors have been severely injured,” Dr Haseeb claimed.
His claimed number of casulities were later proven incorrect. Infact, three patients lost their lives who were being treated in the emergency.
Patients and families suffered as lawyers broke into the ICU wards of the hospital. “As soon as the protest started, doctors and paramedic staff escaped, leaving the patients unattended,” a patient said.
Dr Haseeb has blamed the government and the health ministry for the attack.
Following the attack, the Young Consultants Association and the Young Doctors Association announced strikes at all outdoor and indoor emergencies. The doctors claimed that they will continue the strike if the government does not take action against the attack.
Provincial Minister Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan has taken notice of the incident. “The chief minister has ordered a committee to be formed to take action against these lawyers,” he said. Chohan was injured during the protest as well.
TNT Report
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