New York: Looks like that day is not far when there will be proper monitoring and accountability of practices by licensed doctors in Pakistan.

Doctors, until now untouched by law for acts of negligence, careless misconduct, errors and omissions charges by the public both poor and the rich, have now come under spotlight in Pakistan. The death of former cricket captain Wasim Akram’s wife Huma Akram aka Huma Mufti triggered it. The role of the independent media in highlighting the matter also helped.

The Federal government stepped in to probe the death of Huma Akram – former Pakistani cricket captain Wasim Akram’s wife who died recently due to criminal negligence and mishandling by doctors of a renowned hospital in Lahore.

After botched attempts by doctors to stabilize her conditions, Akram air-dashed  his wife to Chennai in India but it was too late. Huma died of complications that could not have been reversed.

Those doctors blamed for the death of cricket legend Wasim Akram’s wife have now been suspended and had their practice licenses canceled, the health ministry announced on Thursday.

Huma Akram, 42, died due to multiple organ failure in India on October 25 after she was airlifted to Chennai when her condition worsened in a hospital in the Lahore.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had ordered an inquiry after former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram complained that poor medical facilities and negligence at the National Hospital and the Doctor’s Hospital in Lahore led to his wife’s death.

‘The licenses of 17 doctors have been cancelled over negligence in the treatment of Wasim’s wife Huma,’ the ministry announced in a statement after a meeting of the National Assembly standing committee on health.

Wasim told the committee the National Hospital charged 16.8 million rupees (200,000 dollars) for treatment and other charges to airlift the patient.

Federal Health Minister Ijaz Jakhrani told reporters the investigation revealed Huma’s death was due to the negligence of the doctors.

Wasim vowed to continue his fight to improve poor medical facilities which he believed contributed to his wife’s death.

‘I do not want any revenge because my wife cannot return,’ Wasim told French news agency AFP. ‘I want to launch a campaign against poor medical facilities and negligence so that such tragic deaths do not occur in future.’

The move by the Health Ministry will be welcome news also to the parents of three-year-old girl Imanae Malik who recently fell victim to negligence at the hands of medical staff at the Doctor’s Hospital in Lahore.

Wasim, who played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan, said he will announce the details soon.

Wasim’s mentor Imran Khan, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated cricketers, built a cancer hospital in Lahore after his mother’s death in a similar bid to counter poor medical facilities in Pakistan.  (MAMOSA)