The decision to transfer the Neurosurgery and Orthopedics departments of Nishtar Hospital Multan to Nishtar 2 has been met with opposition. Shakil Anjum, President of the Press Club Multan, has written a letter to Chief Minister Punjab demanding the reversal of this decision.
According to details, the Secretary of Health Punjab, Ali Jan, had issued a notification a few days ago, transferring the Neurosurgery and Orthopedics departments of Nishtar Hospital to Nishtar 2. This move has sparked strong criticism and outrage from medical circles, lawyers’ organizations, and civil society. In response, Shakil Anjum, the President of the Press Club, has sent a letter to Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, expressing concerns about the transfer.
The letter explains that the Neurosurgery and Orthopedics departments at Nishtar Hospital, which has 1700 beds, are vital services. Their transfer to Nishtar 2 will negatively impact the people of Multan, Southern Punjab, and even parts of Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Patients in the central Multan area will have to travel 25 to 30 kilometers to reach Nishtar 2, making access to healthcare more difficult. Therefore, Shakil Anjum has urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to keep both Nishtar 1 and Nishtar 2 fully operational and functional. He also recommended purchasing proper machinery and equipment for Nishtar 2 and hiring necessary staff to ensure its smooth operation.
