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Normality returning to JPMC after clash
KARACHI, Aug 21: Although the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC)
started to return to normality on Monday - five days after a clash between two
groups that left a student dead - protesting students kept the gynaecology
department closed for hours.
According to hospital sources, while police,
Rangers and the hospital's watch and ward staff kept a watchful eye on
troublemakers, the protesting students struck near the obstetrics and
gynaecology (O&G) department and wards 8 and 9 at around 9.30am.
A
source said that the O&G department, which resumed functioning on Monday,
was closed again when the protesting group of students created panic and forced
the "patients and the medical staff" to leave the premises.
Upon
receiving information of the incident, the security personnel, focusing mainly
on administrative offices, the casualty department and the OPDs, rushed to the
site and brought the situation under control.
After the incident, the
ward in question wore a deserted look even at around 3pm, while about half a
dozen policemen were seen posted at the entry point and corridors of the
gynaecology wards.
When contacted over the phone, the doctor in
charge of the O&G department, Prof Shireen Z. Bhutta, said that working
remained suspended for some time after a smooth start in the morning. Overall,
the wards in question and the relevant emergency section functioned very much
during the day, while patients reported for medical interventions and a couple
of deliveries were also performed, she said. Another source claimed that a scare
prevailed at the obstetrics and gynaecology department after the act of
hooliganism. In the meantime, all out-patients' departments which were due on
Monday were reopened again to patients as Rangers and police were seen deployed
at sensitive places.
A senior doctor expressed the hope that things would
normalise in a couple of days, adding that medical OPDs did work considerably,
while surgical set-ups faced difficulties in retuning due to absence of the
staff concerned and limited activities on radiological side and
laboratories.
The emergency and casualty department of the JPMC also
functioned peacefully as the law-enforcement forces remained present
nearby.
Following an administrative decision, the security staff of the
hospital with the support of Rangers and police also removed flags and banners
of various political outfits.
A senior doctor said the graffiti would be
removed soon and the hospital administration was considering a plan to
depoliticise the health complex to avoid such incidents or inconvenience to the
patients due to internal or external elements. Dawn
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