Following the tragic deaths of 20 newborns at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Pakpattan, the district administration has launched a swift response, shutting down several illegal and unregistered maternity homes. A high-level inquiry committee has also been formed to investigate the matter.
As per local media reports, Deputy Director Health Dr. Ahmad Salman led a crackdown on multiple unregistered maternity homes operating in Pakpattan city and surrounding areas.
These facilities were not registered with the Punjab Healthcare Commission. Moreover, operation theaters of four private hospitals have been shut down following the incident involving the 20 infants who were brought to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.
Sealed facilities include Maternity Home (22/SP, Pul Bahmani), Al-Fareed Medicare Hospital (DHQ Road), Basheer Maternity Home (Miti Stop, Hota Road), Dastgir Hospital (Chowk Aryan), and Imran Maternity Home (Sikandar Chowk), run by individuals including Sajida Sabir, Muhammad Parvez, Sitara (LHV), and Muhammad Imran.
Deputy Commissioner Maria Tariq confirmed that operation theaters at Doctor Hospital, Green Town, Shahid Hospital, Ali Hospital, and MMC Hospital on DHQ Road have also been sealed.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman said that there appears to be no direct link between the hospital’s facilities and the newborn deaths, as the infants were admitted in already critical condition. During an emergency visit to the DHQ Hospital, he emphasized that all aspects of the incident are being professionally and thoroughly reviewed.
