Human organs, dead newborns dumped on BKMC grounds

Hospital says they are probing matter as health ministry takes notice

PESHAWAR: Serious questions have been raised after a video, recorded by an unidentified person in the Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) showing human organs, including placenta [which develops in the uterus during pregnancy] and dead newborns dumped near the facility with regular trash, went viral.



The video, though, has led to the hospital launching an inquiry into the matter. The complex is located in Swabi, native district of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shahram Tarakai as well as the speaker of the provincial assembly Asad Qaiser.

The clip shows human organs and placenta dumped just outside the hospital’s building, but within the hospital premises along with hospital waste from the gynaecology ward. Some of the waste was on fire (as is common practice to dispose of waste) but a heap of trash is still visible, attracting animals including crows, dogs, cats and kites.

“The Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai visited the facility a few days ago where the minister was told about the problems being faced by the hospital’s administration since construction is underway, however, it seems as if the minister was not told about dumping Gynea ward waste [for reasons unknown],” a senior official at the facility told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity since he was allowed to speak to the media.

The official, however, defended the hospital stating that the facility lacked the required manpower. Moreover, he said that the deputy commissioner had been asked to have the municipal committee shift the waste.

“This should not have happened, but since it has, the department has taken serious notice of the issue as this is not considered a mistake, this is something really serious,” the official further said, adding that an inquiry has already been launched into the matter.

When contacted, BKMC Medical Superintendent Dr Abid Hussain (currently on medical leave) confirmed the developments, stating that an inquiry report is expected to be submitted on Monday. “It was astonishing and I have set an inquiry team to probe the issue,” Dr Hussain told The Express Tribune, adding that once the report is completed, it will be forwarded to the health ministry.



Meanwhile, the provincial health department has taken notice of the issue and has asked the concerned officials why human organs were not dealt with properly.  Earlier, the health department took action after a video showed an ambulance dumping hospital waste into a river in Chitral.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2017.