For a well-informed K-P: Awareness of rights need of the hour, says Roghani

Deputy speaker says development can only take place if govt depts strengthened

PESHAWAR: K-P Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Meher Taj Roghani said K-P has been engulfed with problems for long, especially with the migration of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons.

Though Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has introduced many reforms and enacted more than 100 laws, lack of awareness continues to cripple the province and its people, she said while addressing an awareness session on K-P Right to Public Services Act 2014 held in collaboration with Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Friday. “Reforms could only be brought once departments are strengthened.”

During his address on the occasion, Right to Public Service Commission Chairperson Hanif Orakzai said providing health services was the duty of a welfare state. He added provision of health, education and justice were signs of a developed society.

Lack of data collection

“The law has empowered citizens and the commission will implement it,” Orakzai said, adding the commission has already notified monitoring officers. Every officer is bound to appraise the commission of data after every ten days.

“There are some problems with data collection in the health sector as some essential information is not being registered,” Orakzai maintained. He added once phone numbers of patients were registered, the commission would be able to follow patients and collect their feedback.



The commission’s data administrator Tahura said they usually call people and ask if they faced any problems during services offered. However, since health facilities do not record contact details, the commission cannot get feedback and problems remain in the system.

“Whenever we go (to hospitals in any area), we find names and locations of patients but no phone numbers [so we are unable to contact them and ask for feedback],” said Tahura. “Information was collected through cellular phones. She said people could file an application directly before the commission.

Trained staff at LRH

LRH Director Colonel (retd) Hamid Saeed Haq said technology was being utilised in the hospital, adding the out-patient department was computerised. “However, the hospital is understaffed.”

He said hospital management was hiring managers who will be responsible for their respective departments, adding a sum of Rs300 million was released for procuring medicines but the decision was withdrawn after the management, following a thorough check, found Rs150 million could be saved. Haq stated the management was focusing on health and hygiene.

“If a Pukhtun does not enquire about a patient at the hospital, the patient’s family considers it rude and that is why we have an influx of people at LRH,” he said, adding things were being streamlined and a strict check on cleanliness at the facility was being kept.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th,  2016.