Ever since two patients with monkeypox were identified in Islamabad, fears over a potential outbreak have grown, which has led to a declaration of public health emergency in Karachi and a scurry at the city’s airport to find temperature guns, which were bought during the coronavirus outbreak.
The ensuing panic over the realisation that there are no thermal temperature guns at the country’s busiest international and domestic airport, is justified given the fact that the equipment was purchased merely 2 years ago.
As per data obtained by The Express Tribune from the provincial health department, back in March of 2020, the then Director General Health, Dr Mubeen Memon, had purchased 900 thermal temperature guns for Karachi. 150 went to District Central, 150 to District East, 150 to District West, 150 to District South, 150 to Korangi District, and 150 to Malir District. Out of the 150 infrared thermometers given to District Malir, 15 were sent to the staff of Karachi Airport.
Presently, not only are the 15 sent to the airport missing but there seems to be no record of all 900 infrared thermometers. Sources at the DG Health’s office confided to The Express Tribune that none of the temperature guns were returned once Covid-19 protocols were lifted.
The Express Tribune also learnt that the procurement of the thermometers was done on an emergency basis given the gravity of the coronavirus outbreak and thus public procurement rules were not followed; hence, there is no record of how much was spent on buying the temperature guns.
However, according to various pharmaceutical vendors, thermal temperature guns were retailing for up to Rs4,000 in 2020, which makes it likely upwards of Rs3 million was spent on procuring the thermometers.
Nevertheless, given the predicament that the provincial health department finds itself in, The Express Tribune asked officials of the department regarding procuring new equipment, and it was learnt that the department would now follow public procurement rules to buy new temperature guns.
In the meanwhile, officials of the federal Ministry of Health posted at the Karachi Airport, told The Express Tribune under condition of anonymity, that they were presently relying on scanners to check for fever symptoms associated with the monkeypox diseases. Similarly, officials of the provincial health department at the airport told The Express Tribune that the department had only recently provided them with protective clothing and gloves but had not disclosed anything about the infrared thermometers.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2023.
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