KARACHI, Apr 07 (DNA): The owners and chief executive officers of
private hospitals and leading doctors of the country have urged Sindh
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to extend lockdown after April 14,
otherwise spread of coronavirus could not be controlled.

This emerged on Tuesday during a meeting Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad
Ali Shah held with the owners/CEOs and prominent doctors of the country
here at CM House.

The meeting was attended by  Dr. Abdul Bari, CEO Indus Hospital, Mr.
Rehan Baloch, EOC Coordinator, Dr. Asim Hussain of Ziauddin Hospital,
Dr. Syed Junaid Shah of A.O Clinic, Dr. Saadia Virk of South City
Hospital, Dr. Umer Jang of NMC, Dr. Bilal Faiz CEO Creek General
Hospital, Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah CEO Essa Laboratory, Dr. Tahir Yousuf
of Tahir Medical Center,  Manhaj Qudwai, CEO Health Care Commission,
Jawad Amin Khan Commissioner SHCC, Dr. Ali Imam of Imam Clinic, Ali
Farhan of Darul Sehat, Dr. Salman Fareedi of LNH, Zerkais Ankleseria of
Ankle Saria Hospital, Brig. Dr. Waqar of Memon Medical Institute, Dr.
Mazhar Nizam of Patel Hospital Commodore Kamran Khan, AKU and Dr Sadiq
Ansari and others.

The chief minister told the participants of the meeting that he wanted
their support, cooperation and guidance to fight coronavirus. “This is
why I have bothered you here,” he said. All the doctors lauded the
efforts and prompt action of the chief minister and said had he not
taken timely measures the situation would have been out of control.

They suggested the chief minister not to ease off lockdown after April
14. If the lock down is withdrawn or eased off the virus would spread
like fire in the jungle, they said and added “A large population of the
city is slum dweller – they live in small house with large families,
travel in buses in crows,” they painted the picture and said it such
kind of crowding is allowed people would get infected in buses and on
the streets and would take the virus back to their home and get their
family members and  localities infected.

The chief minister said that he would consult with his cabinet and other
stake holder on the issue.

All the CEOs and owners of the private hospitals assured the chief
minister that they would provide him equipments, manpower, technical and
expert support whenever the povicial government would be  in need.

The chief minister formed a committee headed by Health Minister Dr Azra
Pechuho with Dr Asim, Dr Sadia and various others on board to work out
plan, requirement and arrangements to takle the situation. DNA