Disconnected: LRH patients suffer as machinery remains out of order

Administration assures matter will be resolved within a week

PESHAWAR: After the provincial government granted autonomy to medical teaching institutions (MTIs), running day-to-day affairs became the responsibility of the hospitals’ board of governors. However, at Lady Reading Hospital, the board has failed to fix essential machinery, adding to the hardships faced by patients.

Before the legislation, the government itself was responsible for the administration of all its hospitals. However, the MTI’s are now run by “independent boards”.

The LRH management has yet to repair its computerised tomography (CT) scan machine which has been dormant for the last week even though huge funds have been released and money generated through slips at the accidents and emergency department.

“Yes, I know this is completely the responsibility of the hospital administration. However, as there is a proper procedure to follow, it may take time,” a senior health official dealing with administrative issues told The Express Tribune.

He said the matter has been brought to the notice of the hospital authorities, adding steps were being taken to ensure the CT scan machine is functional within the next seven days. The official added people were suffering financially as they paid double the amount at a private setup for a CT scan.

Not only is the CT scan machine out of order, but so is a lift which carries kidney patients at the urology ward. It has been out of order for the last 40 days, despite the fact that the issue has been brought to the notice of the administration.

“Those who fix things on a 24-hour notice are not part of the administration any longer and people running affairs seem least bothered over the problems faced by patients with kidney problems,” a senior health expert said. He added patients with kidney diseases go through immense pain when they walk. Climbing stairs is even more painful, he added.

When asked, LRH Media Manager Zulfiqar Babakhel said both these issues were being dealt with, but certain parts were not available. He assured the management was in contact with manufacturers to fix both the lift and the CT scan machine.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2016.