Zakat fund: Needy patients suffer due to officials’ lethargy

Zakat recipients have not received medicines, treatment for three months.

ISLAMABAD:

Medical patients belonging to the low income group continue to suffer owing to the ongoing internal rift between the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ (Pims) management and Zakat fund managers.

Though the funds are provided to the hospital twice a year, no steps have been taken to ensure continuous supply of free-of-cost medicines and surgical equipment for thousands of deserving patients.



“Since July this year, the hospital has not received the second instalment of the Zakat funds,” said an official at Pims who wished not to be named.

He said it has become a permanent issue that needs to be resolved as the lives of several people depend on the release of these funds.

“There are many patients including ones suffering from cardiovascular diseases, renal, psychiatric problems and diabetes, among many others, who need drugs daily and a slight delay can worsen their condition,” said the official.

The official added it has become extremely difficult for patients who had to undergo dialysis and needed medicines.



“They are forced to buy medicines from other places which many cannot afford and thus usually try to delay it,” said the official, adding that “There are some patients who haven’t received complete treatment since they cannot afford to buy the medicines from private pharmacies.”

Among many such patients is Rehmat Ali who is a cardiac patient and is unemployed.

“My life depends on these medicines, which the hospital provided to me for free. However, for the past two to three months the hospital has stopped supplying them,” he said, adding that he was jobless and had borrowed money from his relatives who too have stopped giving him money.

Fazle Rabi, an epilepsy patient, finds it difficult to manage his household in the meagre amount he gets.

“It becomes difficult to feed my family from my salary as I am the only bread winner of the family. How can I spend from my salary to purchase medicines,” he said.

When contacted, Zakat and Usher Committee District Officer Bahadur Qaisrani said he had thrice sent cheques to Azhar Hussain Butt, chairman of the committee.

“We have the funds and have also forwarded them but due to the lethargy of certain officials patients continue to suffer,” he said.

He was hopeful that the cheques will be signed soon and the funds released for deserving patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2014.