Deceased cancer patient at PIMS added to COVID-19 list

ISLAMABAD: While the discrepancies between test results of government hospitals and private laboratories have not been resolved, a case has emerged of such discrepancies between PIMS and NIH laboratory.

Mazhar Saleem, aged 38, passed from away from cancer at PIMS a day earlier. His medical reports stated he was suffering from COVID-19 but the test reports from a private laboratory declared him negative from the virus.

The AJK resident was under treatment at PIMS for several days. His family members state he was not placed in the isolation ward for coronavirus patients nor were they informed that he was suffering from the virus.

They added that Saleem was suffering was cancer and was provided 17 bottles of blood before he passed away yesterday. However, they said the patient was included in the list of COVID-19 patients and now the hospital administration is refusing to hand over the body.

The deceased’s family members appealed to the prime minister chief justice that this coronavirus farce shall be ended and they shall be handed over the body. They said the proper burial rites are not performed by the hospital and the deceased was handed in a wooden coffin.