The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has strongly condemned the alleged mistreatment of Mayo Hospital’s Medical Superintendent (MS) during Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent visit.
In an emergency meeting held on Friday, PMA representatives criticized the Chief Minister’s decision to remove the MS from his position, denouncing what they described as her “insulting attitude” towards the hospital administration.
Expressing serious concerns over the CM’s behavior, the officials stated that doctors were subjected to “disrespectful” treatment. They argued that hospitals are being assessed through the perspective of an “incompetent bureaucracy” rather than considering the needs of patients and medical professionals.
Addressing the financial crisis at Mayo Hospital, the PMA revealed that the institution is burdened with Rs 3.2 billion in unpaid dues to pharmaceutical companies due to bureaucratic delays in releasing funds. Despite this crisis, the hospital received only Rs 20 million, an amount deemed insufficient to resolve its financial struggles.
The association also criticized the provincial government’s healthcare policies, warning that hastily launched projects without proper assessment lead to financial mismanagement. They further accused the bureaucracy of favoritism, alleging that close relatives were being appointed to key positions and condemning what they called the “worst kind of privatization,” which they believe is worsening the healthcare sector.
Raising alarm over the recent threats of arrest against senior medical professionals, the PMA described these actions as a severe escalation, calling them the “final nail in the coffin” of an already struggling health system. They stressed that elected officials should not mistreat government employees.
Challenging the Punjab CM’s authority to remove the MS, the association maintained that such decisions fall under the jurisdiction of the Health Department. They reaffirmed their commitment to defending the dignity and rights of doctors and medical staff, pledging to take all necessary steps to protect their professional integrity.
PMA ki dum par paon agiya hai, MDCAT sae bi itna pesa bnatae hain, whan par bi insae sahi tarake sae kam nahi hota, har jaga apni monoply banae ki koshish kae , hamri doctor community ko khuch na khae