Punjab Hospitals Under Scrutiny: The Handwritten Report Controversy

In a move signaling a serious push for accountability and transparency within its healthcare system, the Punjab government has officially constituted a high-powered committee. This special panel, formed on August 25, 2026, is tasked with thoroughly investigating a rather unsettling revelation: the persistent issuance of handwritten medico-legal certificates (MLCs) and postmortem reports (PMRs) at no fewer than five major teaching hospitals across the province, despite clear directives for computerization.

It seems the long arm of the law, specifically the Lahore High Court, finally prompted this decisive action. The court had previously taken notice of the ongoing use of these manual documents, which frankly, in this day and age, raises quite a few eyebrows. The Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education (SH&ME) Department then sprang into action, issuing the necessary orders to get this inquiry underway. It's quite a serious matter, as these documents are crucial in legal proceedings, and any lack of standardization or potential for human error could have significant implications.

Leading this vital probe is Mr. Imran Sikandar, who holds the significant positions of Inquiry Officer, Chairman of the Punjab Transport Authority, and Secretary of the Transport Department. He’s been given a tight deadline, too: a mere 60 days to submit his comprehensive report and recommendations. Meanwhile, the accused medical superintendents (MSs) of these five hospitals have been granted a period of seven days to present their written defenses. It’s all moving rather quickly, which is perhaps a good sign of the government's intent.

The core of the issue boils down to alleged inefficiency and misconduct under Section 3 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Peeda) Act, 2006. The numbers are frankly quite staggering when you look at the preceding six months. Across these five institutions, a whopping 4,244 handwritten MLCs and 283 handwritten PMRs were issued. Imagine the potential for inconsistencies, legibility issues, or even worse, manipulation, when such critical documents aren't standardized digitally.

Let's break down where these handwritten documents originated. Dr. Faisal Masood Teaching Hospital Sargodha reported 735 handwritten MLCs and 48 PMRs. Nishtar Hospital Multan, meanwhile, had 816 handwritten MLCs and a concerning 182 PMRs. Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital Sialkot seems to be a particularly prominent offender with 1,245 handwritten MLCs and 43 PMRs. Services Hospital Lahore recorded 680 handwritten MLCs, and finally, Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan contributed 768 handwritten MLCs and 10 PMRs to this unsettling total. The sheer volume suggests this isn't an isolated incident but a systemic challenge.

Adding another layer of complexity to this saga is the situation surrounding Dr. Rao Amjad Ali Khan, the former MS of Nishtar Hospital Multan. He's been mentioned in connection with this inquiry, even though he was previously removed from his post on July 6, only to be reinstated by a service tribunal. Yet, as of August 25, he's once again being referred to as the 'former' MS, highlighting an ongoing, perhaps contentious, situation. Sources close to the matter even suggest that Dr. Rao feels he's been treated unfairly by the government, especially with his retirement reportedly just a few months away, possibly in November or December. It’s a bit of a bureaucratic tangle that adds a human element to this broader issue of accountability.

With Surgeon Medico-Legal Punjab appointed as the departmental representative for the inquiry proceedings, all eyes will be on Mr. Sikandar's committee to deliver a thorough and unbiased report. This probe isn't just about administrative compliance; it’s fundamentally about upholding the integrity of the legal and healthcare systems in Punjab, ensuring that justice is served based on reliable and transparent documentation.