Surprise raid: KMC director finds staff absent at ASH

KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s senior director for Health and Medical Services, Dr Birbal Genani, paid a surprise visit to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital on Thursday, where he found only two consultants present on duty.

According to KMC officials, Dr Genani reached the facility at around 8:45am and found that no one from the hospital’s administrative staff, including the medical superintendent, were present on duty. Even the chief nursing superintendent’s office was found closed. Dr Genani proceeded to inspect various departments such as the blood bank, laboratory and emergency ward.



Subsequently, the additional medical superintendent, Dr Rizwan, reached the hospital at around 9:30am. As Dr Genani proceeded to inspect the various departments, he observed that patients were waiting in line at the Out-Patient Department (OPD) clinics, but no doctors were available to attend to them. Besides, only two consultants — one from the neurosurgery department and another from the medical side - were present at their stations.

Meanwhile, the recently renovated emergency department was found to be neat and clean, with several sanitary workers hard at work. Dr Genani checked the attendance record of staff and warned that strict action would be taken against any staff found to be absent.

Dr Genani directed the additional MS, Dr Rizwan and chief nursing superintendent to take interest in their job and ensure cleanliness of the facility and punctuality of employees.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2018.