Lights out: Hesco disconnects Matli hospital’s power supply

KARACHI:

The 30-bed Matli taluka hospital in Badin district has had virtually no electricity during the past 19 days due to unpaid utility bills, with an absolute power shutdown for the past 12 days.

"This is the 12th consecutive day that we have been without power," confirmed the hospital's medical superintendent Dr Mohammad Ali Chang, saying that the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) has cut off the hospital's electricity supply due to nonpayment of electricity bills.

Dr Chang revealed that Hesco claims a total arrears amount of Rs972,000 but added that the hospital has been paying utility bills regularly. "It is a disputed matter and we can't pay what the Hesco demands," he added.

It was learnt on Sunday that a nebuliser machine was set up at the nearby Edhi centre for the patients who require it on an immediate basis, while an official informed that Hesco administration has warned hospital management that an FIR will be lodged if the hospital tries to steal electricity.

The temperature reached 46 degrees centigrade on Sunday as dehydration and diarrhea patients increase and it has become increasingly difficult for the hospital to continue supplying power through its 13 kilovolt generator. According to hospital records, an average 800 patients visit its out-patients department daily, while all 30 beds are occupied.

"It is a very difficult situation for us. Our patients are in critical condition," said Dr Chang. "It is also becoming increasingly difficult to store vaccinations at the optimum temperatures."

However, Matli residents feel that the doctors are to blame for the issue as well. "The doctors don't want restoration of power to the hospital," a Matli resident alleged. "They are referring patients to private hospitals and decreasing their workload. The administration must immediately restore power to the hospital." The total annual hospital budget for electricity stands at Rs851,000. It was also learnt that the district health officer paid Rs57,000 of the unpaid amount to help ease the financial burden but power has still not been restored. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2014.