Minister for Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the Legislative House that the Health Department is committed to ensure quality healthcare, institutional accountability and continuous improvement of patient safety protocols.

She was responding to the Calling Attention Motion moved by MLA Pulwama Waheed Ur Rehman Parra regarding death of a patient at L D Hospital.

Responding to the motion, the Minister, conveying her deepest condolences to the bereaved family and informed that the department had constituted an enquiry Committee on 20th October to examine the case in detail and furnish a factual and comprehensive report within a day.

She informed the House that the Committee found that the patient was diagnosed with Placenta Accreta which is a rare and life threatening obstetric condition characterized by abnormal placental adherence.

Quoting the Committee report, she said that in view of the critical nature of the condition, the medical team undertook emergency hysterectomy after obtaining written consent from the family.

The Minister further informed the House that following surgery the patient developed sepsis, with her white blood cell (WBC) count rising to 55 thousand indicating a severe systemic infection.

As per the report, despite intensive care and medical management, her condition continued to deteriorate.

The Minister said that all necessary medical interventions were undertaken in a timely and professional manner but the complications that led to the patient's demise were clinical in nature and not attributable to negligence.