Hospital essentials running thin bare

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has taken notice of the shortage of essential items including outpatient department (OPD) slips, registers, as well as stationery items and cleaning supplies at government hospitals across the province.

The department has sought details of the financial expenditure over the last three months from all district health officers (DHOs) and medical superintendents (MSs).

In a letter sent by the Health Department, DHOs and MSs were reprimanded, stating that the lack of necessary supplies such as registers, admission charts, and cleaning items has caused unhygienic conditions in healthcare facilities.

Even toilets lack essential items like buckets, water containers, toilet paper, soap, detergent, wipers, and cleaning brushes, creating a deplorable situation.

This has also raised concerns regarding the effective utilisation of allocated funds by these hospitals. Therefore, the department has decided to review the budget for the three financial years from 2021 to 2024. It has directed all hospitals across the province to provide details of funds allocated for stationery, printing, and other incidental needs. They also sought details of the expenses of machinery repairs and equipment.

In the letter, hospitals have been directed to provide details of their expenses along with every document attached to the bills.

This must include procurement records, tenders (if any), demand, purchase, inspection reports, bills and entries in the stock register.

Similarly, hospitals have been asked to send the items supplied to various sections under the control of DHOs to the department with verification.