ISLAMABAD: While it is commonly known that public-sector hospitals either do not provide medicines to patients or they provide it for just three days, Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has directed Polyclinic Executive Director Dr Shahid Hanif to issue one month’s medicines to senior citizens and 15 days medicines to other patients at their homes so that they do not have to make frequent visits to the hospital.

The ombudsman has also directed officials from the ministries of national health services (NHS) and finance to provide necessary funds and facilities to the hospital besides resolving service issues of doctors as soon as possible. He further recommended that the possession of attached government quarters should be given to the Polyclinic management so that its service providing capacity could be enhanced.

A letter to the inspector general of police (IGP) has been written and he has been asked to change the hospital’s security staff every two weeks.

Ombudsman directs NHS, finance ministries to provide funds to hospital

These directions were given after a number of complaints by patients were received by the secretariat and a team was also constituted which visited the hospital and submitted a report regarding issues faced by patients.

The team, constituted by Mr Qureshi, consisted of Senior Adviser Ahmed Farooq and Consultant Pervez Haleem. The team visited Polyclinic, heard the complaints of patients, inspected the hospital, held a meeting with the management of Polyclinic and then filed a report.

Members of the team inspected the emergency, out-patient department, laboratories, stores and kitchen and found unsatisfactory conditions and also listened to the problems of the management.

Dr Shahid Hanif along with a team of doctors briefed the team about difficulties they faced while handling patients.

“In 1966, the hospital was constructed for only 200 outdoor patients with only eight beds but now with the passage of time, space has been enhanced to 545 beds whereas the OPD receives 7,500 patients daily. The doctors have a number of professional and service issues along with service facilities but relevant ministries have paid no heed,” Dr Hanif said.

After observing the report, Mr Qureshi has directed the Polyclinic management to issue medicines for one month to senior citizens and for 15 days to people less than 60 years of age so that they do not have to visit the hospital time and again.

He also directed officials that standard operating procedures (SOPs) for better hygiene should be formulated and a biometric system for hospital employees’ attendance should be set up.

The hospital management complained against the behaviour of police officials appointed on security duty, alleging that they are involved in corrupt practices. The ombudsman lauded the efforts of the management of Polyclinic for resolving immediate issues indicated by the inspection team.

It is pertinent to mention that Polyclinic was established in 1966 as Central Government Hospital. The objective of Polyclinic is to provide free-of-cost, quality health care services to federal government employees. At the moment, there are almost 550 beds dedicated for primary, secondary and tertiary curative care services to federal government employees. Around 30,000 patients are admitted in the hospital annually and over 95 per cent beds remain occupied all the time. In 2008, it was decided that the hospital will be expanded however, the project remained controversial and could not be implemented.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2022