CM Maryam responds to criticism over Mayo MS firing

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has responded to criticism over firing of Mayo Hospital’s medical superintendent (MS) during her surprise visit to the hospital last month, a video of which had gone viral and drawn mixed reaction from the public.

Addressing the first passing-out parade of the Environment Protection Force on Wednesday in Lahore, the Punjab CM said that after she fired the MS and the principal, the media was flooded with criticism against her action.

CM Maryam said that she herself deeply respected doctors who served their country, but could not let anyone burden poor patients.

“When I raided the hospital’s basement, there were boxes filled with medicines that doctors were telling patients to buy from outside the hospital,” she said, adding that patients were being forced to buy medicines from selected pharmacies outside the hospital.

“When I have reserved around Rs100 billion for free medicines for those seeking treatment at government hospitals, how dare anybody tell poor patients to buy costly medicines from outside?”

Last month, the provincial chief executive had received flak after she fired Mayo Hospital’s MS Dr Faisal Masood over “negligence” during her surprise hospital visit, which was caught on camera.

While some social media users had lauded the CM for swift action, others had criticised her for an “authoritarian” approach. Some users had taken to X (formerly Twitter), writing that it was “unethical behaviour” towards a respected doctor and “brazen disregard for institutional decorum”.

 “The guy needs to be fired,” the video had shown CM Maryam telling the healthcare minister while pointing at the MS.

 
“You should be thankful that I am not having you arrested,” she had told the MS, alleging that he was also unaware of the patients’ condition at the hospital.

 
The action had come after patients and their attendants had reportedly complained to the provincial chief executive about the lack of facilities at the hospital.