Hospital's condition worsened under private administration, judge informed

Additional district and sessions judge pays inspection visit to public hospital in Ibrahim Hyderi

KARACHI: During an inspection of a public hospital in Ibrahim Hyderi, an additional district and sessions judge was informed on Tuesday that the hospital's condition had worsened since it was given to a private entity.

Medical superintendent (MS) of the hospital Kishore Khatri informed Malir Additional District and Sessions Judge Shafi Muhammad Pirzada that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) that was running the hospital had failed to manage its affairs properly.

The MS told the judge that the government had handed the hospital's administrative control over to the NGO so that welfare of patients could be ensured and improved medical facilities, including provision of medicines, were available for the patients.



The MS lamented that instead of showing improvement, the hospital's affairs exacerbated. The patients are in distress due to the non-provision of medicines, he complained, adding that even drinking water was not available at the hospital.



According to the MS, the NGO had been repeatedly directed to ensure availability of medicines at the hospital but it did not pay any heed. Khatri also alleged that medicines provided to the patients at the hospital were unregistered, substandard and expired.

The judge also met patients during the visit who complained about their miseries. He directed to send samples of allegedly substandard medicines to a laboratory.



The judge sought list of required medicines at the hospital from the store incharge. He asked the hospital authorities to provide information about medicines that were demanded by the hospital and those that were supplied.

A report regarding the MS's observations and hospital affairs would be submitted to the high court, in which an action against the NGO has been recommended.