Graft plagues rural health centre

Doors, windows, petrol engines and timber worth millions of rupees were allegedly illegally sold by staff at RHC Lundianwala. With the building now resembling an abandoned bungalow, calls have been made for a high-level inquiry.

According to reports, corruption and looting are rampant at RHC Lundianwala. The watchman and water carrier posted at the health center have allegedly connived with a private individual to embezzle millions of rupees from the institution.

They allegedly cut down trees at the hospital and sold the timber for millions of rupees without issuing tenders. Even doors, windows, girders and the peter engine installed in the center have reportedly been sold.

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This theft of equipment has become so normal that it has caused losses to the public exchequer. Due to the negligence of senior medical staff, the building of RHC Lundianwala is starting to look like an abandoned house. The broken doors and damaged walls have left the building in a dilapidated condition. Meanwhile, cut trees litter the outside.

In this regard, when Dr Zeeshan of SMO RHC Lundianwala was contacted, he said that there was no petrol engine during his tenure and the facility used water through water pumps. Trees were not cut down and sold during his tenure, he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2024.