Mayo Hospital. PHOTO: FILE
Qazi Yasir, a doctor at the hospital, told The Express Tribune operation theatres and wards had been plunged into darkness when power went off at around 9 am. He said hundreds of procedures were delayed till 3pm, when power supply was finally restored, because the hospital’s backup generators were not connected to all facilities.
He said the hospital’s administration had been informed about the power cut through a LESCO notification on Monday. He said the administration had failed to make appropriate arrangements for the duration of the power cut.
Yasir said most diagnostic facilities had remained unavailable and scores of procedures were delayed as a result. “You can see that the ultra-sound machine is switched off because there is no power,” he pointed out.
“I came from Sahiwal for an endoscopy check up. When I reached the hospital, I was told the department was closed due to a power outage,” said Hashim Ali, a patient. “How can a 2500-bed facility not have enough power generation in times of emergency?” he said.
Additional Medical Superintendent (Admin) Tahir Khalil denied claims that the power outage had caused any problems.
“Paramedics and doctors had been informed about the scheduled outage. Their work was not interrupted because the back-up generators were switched on. I have not received any complaints regarding suspension of operations.”
“The hospital can run for days without LESCO electricity. We have a sufficient number of generators,” he said.
A LESCO spokesman said the hospital administration had been informed through the notification. “It is the responsibility of the administration to maintain power supply in such events,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2016.
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