An inquiry committee formed to look into problems and irregularities at the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital in Rawalpindi has identified serious violations of rules and regulations in the awarding of the parking contract, administrative affairs and recruitment of janitorial staff, while the air conditioning unit meant for patients was used by house officers.
The inquiry committee was formed in the wake of a surprise visit to the hospital by the Punjab caretaker chief minister, Mohsin Naqvi.
In the visit on June 20, Naqvi observed overcharging of parking fee, subpar cleanliness, and the abuse of facilities. Upon this, he ordered an inquiry and sought the report.
In line with the order, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hasan Waqar Cheema formed a committee under the convenorship of Rawalpindi Medical College Principal Prof Jahangir Sarwar. It included Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Marzia Saleem, Health Services Director Dr Ansar Ishaq, the executive engineer (Xen) of the building department, and the sub-division officer of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).
The inquiry committee has submitted its report to the DC, who was yet to forward it to the Punjab chief minister.
According to its finding, seen by The Express Tribune, the parking contract was awarded in violation of the Local Government (Auction of Collection Rights) Rules 2016 and the contract awarded in 2020 has been retained.
The committee team also found irregularities in recruitment of janitorial staff with many of the recruited staff not showing up for duty.
It stated that according to the rules, the split air conditioners were for the use of patients or officers of grade 19 and above. They were currently being used by house officers in violation of the rules.
Moreover, against seven posts of deputy medical superintendents (DMS) at the hospital, only one candidate was recruited on the orders of the government. Ten DMS were recruited on the remaining six vacant posts in violation of the rules.
The appointment of two out of the three additional medical superintendents (AMS) posts in the hospital were made against the rules. Even the records sought by a member of the inquiry committee for the inquiry were not provided.
In its recommendations, the inquiry committee has called for the installation of centralised system of heating and cooling, and the outsourcing cleaning and security services as well as the parking facilities under a transparent manner.
It also recommended recordkeeping of the bidding and regular monitoring of the hospital’s performance.
It also called for action against the personnel responsible for overcharging in the parking fee.
The inquiry team suggested action against the parking contractor after taking notice of the pile of complaints of the citizens.
It also called for the quick completion of ongoing repair work in the hospital's emergency department so that the building could be handed over to the hospital administration.
It suggested improved hiring and recruitment including doctors and specialists as well as support staff.
It noted that the sanitation services in the hospital were below par and called for improvement, particularly in the emergency department and washrooms as well as other places in the hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2023.
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