PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly speaker, Babar Saleem Swati, has ordered stern action over negligence at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, Mansehra, as a tragic incident had taken place at the hospital the other day.
An emergency meeting was held in the KP Provincial Assembly Conference Room, chaired by Babar Saleem Swati, Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, to discuss the tragic death of young Khizar Khan, allegedly due to the negligence of the administration at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra.
The meeting was attended by KP Health Advisor Ehtesham Khan, the Additional Secretary and Director General of Health, the Regional Director of Health for Hazara, the District Health Officer for Mansehra, as well as the Medical Superintendent and Deputy Medical Superintendent of King Abdullah Hospital, along with other relevant officials. The father and brother of the late Khizar Khan were also present.
The Medical Superintendent of King Abdullah Hospital reported that the preliminary inquiry, completed the day before, found evidence of negligence on the part of the involved staff. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati expressed his strong dissatisfaction and directed the Health Department to immediately suspend the responsible doctor and initiate strict disciplinary action based on the inquiry’s findings.
Health officials assured that once the Medical Superintendent forwards the initial report via WhatsApp, the concerned doctor would be suspended that same day, and if negligence is confirmed, the official would not only be dismissed but also have their professional license revoked.
During the meeting, KP Health Advisor Ehtesham Khan emphasised that the government is committed to providing quality healthcare and that no negligence or malpractice would be tolerated in the health sector, which is fundamentally connected to human lives.
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Speaker Babar Saleem Swati expressed serious concern that, despite having modern equipment and trained personnel, King Abdullah Teaching Hospital has deteriorated into merely a referral point, which he deemed unacceptable. He instructed the Health Department to identify all obstacles and transform the hospital into a fully functional and efficient health facility within two months. Additionally, he stressed the need to replace officials who have been in the same position for extended periods without adequate performance with younger, more energetic staff to ensure timely and quality healthcare delivery. He made it clear that no leniency would be shown to negligent officials, even if they were his close relatives.
Furthermore, during the meeting, the Speaker raised the issue of an ultrasound machine that had been stolen from RHC Shinkiari. The District Health Officer informed him that while the police had been notified, an FIR had not yet been registered. Taking immediate action, the Speaker contacted the District Police Officer of Mansehra during the meeting and instructed him to register the FIR without delay and to arrest those involved in order to protect public property.
