Mattani blast: Civil Hospital takes more lives than it saves

Basic equipment such as anaesthesia, X-ray machines missing from premises.

The explosion in Mattani on August 31 has raised several questions about emergency and rescue services in the area, which, unsurprisingly so, are close to none.

Locals say that if timely medical treatment had been provided to the victims, the blast, which killed 12 people and injured another 20, would have been less fatal. Relatives of the victims rushed the injured to Mattani  Government Civil Hospital Mattani only to realise that there were no doctors present.

The hospital, which was established in 1954, was renovated with improved facilities December last year at the cost of Rs34.8 million. The hospital was placed in Category D, according to which the staff must be available at all hours of the day.

But despite the funds injected, the hospital lacks specialists and basic equipment such as anaesthesia machines, proper lights, X-ray machines and generators. The Hospital has one ambulance, which does not function because the two drivers hired for the job have been assigned other duties.

“We have an ambulance given by a non-government organisation,” a hospital employee said.

Ten doctors, three lady health workers and around 33 class-IV employees are currently working at the hospital. A civil hospital staffer claimed that out of the 10 doctors only one comes to work, while others take their salaries and never report.

“Seven injured were shifted to the hospital but there were no medical staff or ambulances so we had to shift them to the Lady Reading Hospital. If doctors were present at the time of the blast and there were proper treatment facilities, many lives could have been saved on Friday,” Aslahi Committee President Malik Shamsul Islam said.

Medical Officer Dr Shafiq Afridi, however, blamed the government for not providing adequate facilities for doctors. “The government renovated the building and patients come here thinking they can get treatment for everything, but neither do we have proper equipment nor do we have enough funds.”

Since the hospital is situated in an area where security is a major concern, the staff was not willing to report that day, Dr Afridi said.

Special secretary for health, Prof Dr Noorul Iman, said that he would visit the hospital and take action against those absent from duty on that fateful day. “More funds have been allocated. We will soon be able to offer all medical facilities to residents here.” He further said that under the Essential Services Act, no one is allowed to refuse duty.

The poor health services were also discussed at the provincial assembly session on Monday. MPA  Khushdil Khan Advocate raised the issue with parliamentarians and said when he visited the hospital after the blast there was no one present.

Provincial Health Minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah conceded to Khan and said he had witnessed the same. “Action will be taken against those not performing their duties.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2012.