Islamabad: Two ophthalmologists from Shifa International Hospital examined former prime minister Imran Khan at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where other specialists conducted his medical examination before a PIMS medical board consolidated his fitness report, hospital authorities said on Friday.
The PIMS administration, however, declined to disclose Imran Khan’s diagnosis, ophthalmological findings or results of investigations, citing patient confidentiality and directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Imran Khan was brought to PIMS during the intervening night of August 20 and 21 for medical examination and treatment, although the Supreme Court had earlier directed authorities to shift him to Shifa International Hospital for examination by a multidisciplinary medical board.
“As part of the examination process, two specialists from Shifa International Hospital participated in the ophthalmological assessment,” PIMS said in an official statement.
It said other examinations were carried out by the concerned PIMS specialists, while clinical input arising from the ophthalmological assessment was considered alongside findings of investigations conducted at the government hospital.
“Accordingly, medical board, comprising doctors of PIMS, consolidated the medical fitness report,” the hospital administration said.
PIMS said it would not disclose the confidential clinical contents of the medical report in keeping with patient privacy and directions of the Supreme Court.
The statement is the first formal account by PIMS of how the former prime minister was medically assessed after his late-night transfer from Adiala jail and confirms that Shifa International specialists participated in the examination despite Imran Khan not being taken to the private hospital itself.
The medical examination followed an August 18 order by a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim, directing the authorities to shift Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital within two days.
The apex court had ordered constitution of a medical board in consultation and coordination with Shifa International Hospital comprising specialists in medicine, surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology and cardiology.
The court had also allowed Imran Khan’s personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan and his sister Dr Uzma Khan to remain associated with his medical examination and treatment.
However, instead of Shifa International Hospital, Imran Khan was taken from Adiala jail to PIMS late Thursday night and returned to the prison early Friday morning after completion of the examination.
The government maintained that the change of hospital was necessitated by security considerations rather than political or medical reasons.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said security agencies decided during the movement that the law and order situation around Shifa International Hospital could not be adequately managed and PIMS was therefore used as an alternative.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran Khan underwent a detailed examination by specialists and was declared medically fit before being returned to Adiala jail at around 5am.
PTI, however, strongly objected to the decision to take its founding chairman to PIMS instead of Shifa International, maintaining that the Supreme Court had specifically named the private hospital in its order.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the party would approach the Supreme Court over what it described as non-compliance with its directions.
Dr Uzma Khan, who accompanied her brother during the examination, also questioned why he had been taken to PIMS when the Supreme Court had ordered his transfer to Shifa International Hospital.
The controversy over Imran Khan’s medical treatment has largely centred on his right eye after he developed central retinal vein occlusion, a condition involving blockage of the main vein draining blood from the retina and which can affect vision.
His family and lawyers had been seeking examination by independent specialists and access for his personal physician amid concerns over his eyesight.
The Supreme Court had observed while ordering his medical examination that the state remained responsible for protecting the life, health, dignity and security of a person in its custody.
The medical reports relating to Imran Khan’s examination and treatment are expected to be placed before the Supreme Court at the next hearing, where the circumstances surrounding his examination at PIMS instead of Shifa International Hospital are also likely to come under scrutiny.