K-P hospital renovation project stalls

DHQ hospitals upgrade delayed despite advance payments

PESHAWAR:

Despite an advance payment of a significant sum to the Infrastructure Development Authority Punjab (IDAP), the renovation and improvement of infrastructure at district headquarters hospitals in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have remained stalled for the past three and a half years.

As a result, over Rs1 billion from the Health Department remains tied up due to the delay. The K-P Auditor General has recommended an inquiry and action against the officials responsible for the project's failure.

Official sources informed The Express Tribune an agreement was signed between K-P's Health Department and IDAP on June 30, 2021, under which the project was to be executed in two phases. Phase I involved the renovation and repair of 13 DHQ hospitals, while Phase II covered non-teaching hospitals.

For this purpose, Rs4.37 billion was allocated for Phase I and Rs11.9 billion for Phase II. Under the agreement, IDAP was required to begin work immediately after receiving 25% of the advance funds. However, despite the Health Department paying Rs1.80 billion, no progress has been made in 3.5 years.

The Health Department's financial report for 2023-24 confirmed that the advance payment had been made. In response to the prolonged delay, the Project Steering Committee recommended terminating the project in its meeting on May 3, 2024.

Sources cited government disinterest, financial crises in recent years, and poor planning by health department officials as key reasons for the project's failure. Meanwhile, IDAP has refused to return the allocated funds. The Auditor General has urged strict action against those responsible.

In a related development, the K-P government has decided to audit the funds of all Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) hospitals and has requested detailed expense reports from them. Officials revealed that preparations are underway to review the accounts, expenses, and financial matters of MTI hospitals since 2018.

Once completed, the audit findings will be presented before the cabinet. Additionally, a review of amendments to the MTI Reforms Act 2015 is expected. This will include an assessment of recruitments, funds, vacancies, and projects under the act.

Last year, The Express Tribune reported that the health department was facing a severe shortage of doctors and had decided to recall all civil servant medics from the MTIs.

Official sources informed The Express Tribune that the health department had solicited information from ten MTI hospitals, including Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar (LRH) regarding this matter.