Lack of facilities plague Sialkot’s biggest govt hospital

No senior doctor on duty in emergency ward, claim citizens

SIALKOT: A lack of facilities at Sialkot’s largest government hospital, coupled with the administration’s negligence, has angered citizens, Express News reported. They have demanded that the Punjab chief minister and other authorities concerned take notice of the situation at Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital.

Reportedly, the district’s largest government hospital is plagued by several issues, including a lack of facilities and mismanagement.

There are no senior doctors on duty at the hospital’s outpatient department (OPD). In their absence, junior doctors allegedly misbehave with patients. As a result, many are frightened of visiting the health facility, said one resident.

“Doctors on duty at the hospital’s emergency ward are also not concerned about the patients’ wellbeing. They stand around gossiping instead of giving people immediate medical assistance,” claimed another resident. This has resulted in many fights breaking out in the ward, he added.



Moreover, the process of getting slips for medical attention has also been made increasingly difficult due to mismanagement. Elderly patients come early in the morning to stand in line for the slips. However, despite waiting all day, they are forced to return empty-handed.

Further, provision of free-of-cost medication has also become impossible as patients are being exploited by hospital staff. Allegedly, hospital staff does not follow doctors’ prescription and give patients medication of their own choosing. As a result, citizens are forced to buy medicines from other pharmacies at inflated prices.

The situation at the facility is becoming worse day by day despite the fact that the medical superintendent is aware of it. Citizens appealed to the government to take notice of the issue and to provide citizens with relief.

Multan facing shortage of medicine

Basic health units (BHUs) and rural health centres are facing an acute shortage of medicine, sources said on Sunday.

According to the District Health Office (DHO), a notification regarding the purchase of essential medicines and surgical instruments for district and tehsil health institutions, issued in October last year by Lahore Health DG, has not yet been implemented.

Reportedly, it will take six to eight months to complete the process in order to supply medicines to BHUs, RHCs and district level facilities such as Shehbaz Sharif District Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Hospital and Civil Hospital.

The process is a lengthy procedure which requires approval from different authorities to secure quotations and to issue tenders, sources added.

Bosan Town Drug Inspector Rao Sajid said that the delay in the supply of medication happened during the interim government. (Additional input by APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2018.