Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s personal physician, Dr Adnan Khan said on Friday that his health is in critical condition and any further delays in shifting him abroad for medical treatment can be dangerous.
In a series of tweets, Dr Adnan said that medical professionals have recommended travelling abroad to a centre of excellence for medical treatment and any delay can be of serious consequences to his health and life.
Responding to criticism on Nawaz staying at his home instead of the hospital, he said that “those heartlessly targeting him should know that he is on heavy doses of steroids and massive immunomodulation and it is not advisable for him to stay in the hospital as any infection acquired at the hospital can be fatal for his impaired immunity”.
He further said that medical professionals have advised him to seek treatment in a high-dependency unit (HDU). Sharif Medical City managed one such facility at his home for providing necessary treatment. Specialised doctors and nurses are providing round the clock care as advised by the medical board, he concluded.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, after much deliberation, had granted a one-time permission to Nawaz for four weeks to travel abroad for his treatment provided he submitted indemnity bonds worth over Rs7.5 billion. PML-N, on the other hand, rejected the demand and the matter is in limbo since then.
Earlier in the day, the Lahore High Court (LHC) also admitted PML-N’s plea challenging the government’s condition.
On October 11, Nawaz was shifted from Central Jail Kot Lakhpat to NAB Lahore building at Thokar Niaz Beg after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) got his 14-day physical remand in connection with the Chaudhry Sugar Mills corruption case investigation. However, on October 28, the former premier was rushed to Services Hospital from the NAB Lahore detention centre after his health suddenly deteriorated. A six-member medical board, headed by Services Hospital Principal Mahmood Ayaz diagnosed the reason for his declining health on October 31.
“It is acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a bleeding disorder, in which the immune system destroys platelets,” a board member had said, adding that doctors were hopeful that his condition would improve in a few days.
On the other hand, other doctors assigned to look after him were of the opinion that he was not in good condition so he should remain in the hospital, however, Nawaz could make a request if he wanted to leave the hospital.
Services Hospital Lahore Medical Superintendent Dr Saleem Shahzad Cheema had told reporters that doctors made Nawaz walk on November 2 so that it could be determined whether he would be able to travel or not.
On November 2, Nawaz’s platelets had dropped again as doctors tried to reduce his steroids dose, the former premier’s personal physician Adnan Khan said on Saturday.
In a tweet, Dr Adnan had said, “Former PM Nawaz Sharif remains critical. The treating doctors tried to reduce the Steroids dose being given to him but unfortunately resulted in a drop in platelet count again which has come down to 38*10^3/uL yesterday.”
“Severe existent co-morbidities (IHD, ECVD, DM, HTN, CKD3) has added to the seriousness of the nature of critical illness, where a very delicate balance has to be maintained between coagulation & anti-coagulation to sustain fragile unstable health status,” he had added.
According to reports, Nawaz’s platelet count had dropped to 38,000 while his blood sugar level had increased from 200 to 375.
