Two PHQ Gilgit nurses detained after patient dies from ‘wrong’ injection

GILGIT: Two nurses have been detained for reportedly administrating a ‘wrong’ injection to a 45-year-old patient, who died at the Provincial Headquarters (PHQ) Hospital in Gilgit on Tuesday night.

The incident, which occurred post-appendectomy, involved an injection allegedly administered by a trainee nurse, sparking questions about the hospital’s procedural protocols.

According to hospital officials, the trainee nurse administered the injection that purportedly led to the patient’s sudden demise. Dr. Syed Sartaj Hussain, Medical Superintendent of PHQ Gilgit, confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause and establish accountability.

The patient’s family, who reported the incident to the authorities, has called for immediate action, leading local police to detain two members of the nursing staff for questioning. Dr. Sartaj explained that the trainee nurse claimed the injection was given at the request of the patient’s attendant, who works with a doctor at a private clinic. The attendant reportedly insisted that the doctor had recommended the injection due to the patient’s vomiting. However, the nurse proceeded without verifying a prescription, after which the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his death within minutes.

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Following the incident, the hospital administration contacted the police and handed over the trainee nurse and duty staff for further inquiry, launching an internal review.

Dr. Sartaj also highlighted the influx of trainee nurses from private nursing colleges operating in Gilgit, which have agreements with the health department to allow trainees to gain hands-on experience at government hospitals. He described this as turning these hospitals into “training grounds” due to a shortage of trained personnel, with an estimated 70 to 80 trainee nurses currently working at PHQ.

In response to the incident, the health department has immediately suspended all trainee nurses from government hospitals in Gilgit, including PHQ and Shaheed Saifur Rehman Hospital, until further notice.

PHQ signs MoFC with Chinese hospital for cooperation

Meanwhile, Gilgit Provincial Headquarters Hospital has signed a Memorandum of Friendly Cooperation (MoFC) with the First People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture in Xinjiang, China. The agreement is part of a larger initiative to foster international medical cooperation, covering areas like telemedicine, infectious disease control, and the promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Both institutions will share medical expertise, conduct remote consultations, and collaborate on scientific research. The memorandum, signed under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Hospital Cooperation Alliance, outlines a framework for partnership, including exchange visits, remote diagnostic capabilities, academic conferences, and technical personnel sharing.

The two hospitals will engage in remote diagnosis and treatment, educational programs, and teleconferences in online and offline formats. They will also organize international academic conferences, forums, seminars, medical training courses, telemedicine programs, and other collaborative events to strengthen ties and improve healthcare services in both regions.