The Special Monitoring Unit's inspection report has revealed serious mismanagement, financial irregularities, patient exploitation, and a systemic breakdown of governance at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Rawalpindi.
The findings have been submitted to the Punjab Chief Minister, accompanied by recommendations for urgent reforms.
The report describes the state of healthcare delivery and basic facilities at the hospital as "extremely poor". Inspectors found that the majority of doctors and paramedical staff were absent, while ICU patients were left lying on bloodstained beds without the supervision of either doctors or nurses. Despite overwhelming crowds in the Emergency and Outpatient Departments, only two service counters were operational.
It was further revealed that 80% of prescribed medicines were unavailable, compelling patients to purchase them from outside. Government-supplied drugs were missing from the pharmacy, while cartons of expired medicines were discovered on-site.
Members of staff were found soliciting bribes from patients, including at token counters where payments were demanded in exchange for services. In one case, a patient was asked to pay Rs90,000 to avoid queues and obtain surgery.
The inspection team also observed doctors and nurses distracted by mobile phones during duty hours, while pharmaceutical companies appeared to wield undue influence. Promotional brochures and calendars of pharmaceutical firms were found displayed in the office of the Medical Superintendent (MS).
Sanitation across the hospital was described as "paralysed". Toilets were declared unusable, water filtration plants were out of order, and drinking water supplies were unsafe. Additional complaints were received about exposed electrical wiring and leaking ceilings in the OPD building.
The hospital is burdened with liabilities totalling Rs440 million, while CCTV cameras were disabled and no biometric attendance system was in place. Nor was there a designated waiting area for patients and their families.
Conditions at the hospital canteen were also found to be deplorable, with unhygienic food, inflated prices, and piles of waste. Parking contractors were reportedly charging Rs50 per vehicle, despite the official rate being Rs30.
The Special Monitoring Unit, attaching all evidence, has submitted the report to the chief minister with a call for immediate remedial action. The monitoring exercise identified critical shortcomings in the provision of medicines, parking, sanitation, food services, washrooms, water filtration, and surgical procedures, and urged comprehensive reforms without delay.
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