A delay has been revealed in the issuance of online computerized medico-legal certificates and post mortem reports in public hospitals across Punjab, while several hospitals continue to issue handwritten reports.
The High Court had directed the digitalization of medico legal certificates and post mortem reports; however, despite the passage of six months, full implementation has not been achieved. The Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education has issued show cause notices to the Medical Superintendents of Services Hospital, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital Sialkot, Allama Iqbal Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan, and Dr. Faisal Masood Hospital Sargodha.
According to sources, the decision to make medico legal and post mortem reports online and computerized was taken due to concerns over possible alterations in handwritten reports. However, hospitals were neither provided the required funds nor additional human resources for this purpose.
According to available data, the five hospitals collectively issued 3,644 medico legal certificates and 283 post mortem reports. These included 816 medico legal certificates and 182 post mortem reports from Nishtar Hospital Multan, 1,245 medico legal certificates and 43 post mortem reports from Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital Sialkot, 735 medico legal certificates and 48 post-mortem reports from Dr. Faisal Masood Hospital Sargodha, 768 medico legal certificates and 10 post mortem reports from Allama Iqbal Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan, while Services Hospital Lahore issued 680 medico legal certificates. Despite a ban on writing medico legal certificates and post mortem reports by hand, effective implementation of the decision has yet to be achieved.
