Hospital under fire for lapses in care

Report cites medicine shortages, delayed emergency care and poor sanitation

RAWALPINDI:

An inspection team constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has raised 12 critical observations regarding alleged deficiencies at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), the city's largest public-sector hospital.

The findings relate to inadequate medical facilities, the unavailability of essential medicines — including insulin — poor sanitation, and security staff not being present at designated posts. The report is to be submitted to the Chief Minister.

The inspection team conducted a comprehensive review of various departments of the hospital over the past two days. The report highlights a number of shortcomings in the system of care and administration.

During the inspection, it was found that several essential medicines were not available at the Outpatient Department (OPD) pharmacy. Among the medicines reportedly unavailable were Duphalac syrup, Malin Lotion 5% (topical), and the analgesic Neuproline Forte tablets, which patients were allegedly being advised to procure from external sources.

In the Gynaecology Department, patient interviews revealed that diagnostic tests were being recommended from a private facility, Biotech Laboratory. In one serious case involving suspected pulmonary embolism — a medical emergency — a patient was reportedly given an echocardiography appointment one month later, constituting what the report described as a grave lapse.

Furthermore, no timely slot was provided for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). Instead, the patient was directed to follow a prolonged procedure involving approval from the Medical Superintendent (MS), coordination with the Radiology Department, and re-referral through Emergency — a process said to cause inappropriate delays in urgent care.

The inspection team also observed long queues outside the OPD pharmacy. Only three pharmacy technicians were deployed at the OPD pharmacy and two at the women's pharmacy, staffing levels described as inadequate in view of the patient load.

In one instance, it was alleged that a security guard stationed at the facility demanded Rs500 from a patient's attendant for renal function tests (RFTs).

Hospital washrooms were found to be in an unsatisfactory state of cleanliness. Security presence in the OPD was also deemed insufficient: of eight designated staff members, only one was present at the time of inspection.

The report further noted that the Chief Minister's recorded message regarding the provision of free medicines was not being broadcast in the OPD area.

Ultrasonography appointments in the OPD were reportedly being scheduled more than a month ahead on the pretext that the machine was out of order. The procedure for urine sample collection was also found to be substandard, with no proper labelling or standardised collection protocol in place, raising the risk of misidentification or sample exchange.

No designated cardiologist was available in the OPD. Cardiology coverage was being managed by a single cardiologist visiting three days a week from Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH).

The report further revealed that insulin had not been available at the OPD pharmacy for the past two months. The inspection team's detailed findings will be formally presented to the CM for further action.