Probe into non-functional hospital machines ordered

CMIT given one month to submit report; KMC asked to verify credentials, presence of employees

KARACHI:

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Sindh Assembly has ordered an investigation into non-functional medical equipment at several hospitals across the province, including facilities run by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), and sought a report from the Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT) within a month.

The committee also directed the KMC to verify the educational qualifications and physical presence of more than 10,000 employees and introduce a biometric attendance system to identify staff drawing salaries without reporting for duty.

The directives were issued during a PAC meeting chaired by Nisar Khuhro on Thursday, where audit objections concerning the KMC for 2024 and 2025 were reviewed. Committee member Taha Ahmed, KMC Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffar and other relevant officials attended the meeting.

During the proceedings, auditors pointed out that several pieces of medical equipment, including X-ray, ultrasound and electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, were non-functional at multiple KMC hospitals, including the Sobhojraj Maternity Hospital. The medical superintendent of Sobhojraj Hospital informed the committee that its X-ray machine had remained out of order from 2022 to 2025 but had since been repaired and restored to working condition.

Khuhro questioned why the machine had been left unrepaired for nearly four years, asking whether the KMC had lacked the funds to carry out the necessary maintenance.

Committee member Taha Ahmed said the prolonged breakdown had caused difficulties for patients for four years, describing the situation as administrative negligence.

He also raised concerns about other hospitals across Sindh, where MRI machines were reportedly either non-functional or could not be operated because of a shortage of technical staff. He alleged that patients were consequently forced to seek diagnostic services from private facilities.

Khuhro said the provincial government was allocating billions of rupees to provide free treatment and improve healthcare facilities, adding that the prolonged non-functioning of diagnostic equipment amounted to negligence that would not be tolerated.

He asked the KMC authorities how many hospitals operated under the corporation. Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffar told the committee that the KMC ran 13 hospitals and that visits were being conducted with the mayor to review services provided to patients.

The PAC chairman subsequently directed the CMIT to investigate whether X-ray machines and other diagnostic equipment, including ultrasound, CT scan, MRI and ECG machines, were operational at KMC hospitals and other healthcare facilities across Sindh. The inspection team was asked to submit its findings within one month.

The committee also expressed concern over delays in verifying the credentials and physical presence of KMC employees. Khuhro asked the municipal commissioner to provide a report and supporting evidence regarding an earlier directive to introduce biometric attendance at the corporation.