NAROWAL: The state of affairs at the Narowal District Headquarters Hospital has been messy and somewhat chaotic as its roof is presenting a picture of a junkyard whereas furniture worth more than Rs50 million purchased over the years is ‘missing’.

When Narowal got the status of district in 1991, its 40-bed tehsil headquarters hospital was upgraded to DHQ hospital. In 2012, the hospital was shifted to a newly-constructed building.

In 2013, the then medical superintendent had purchased 100 new hydraulic bed trolleys, chairs and other equipment.

Narowal is the constituency of PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal. In 2014, Mr Iqbal further upgraded the infirmary to a 300-bed hospital. As part of the upgrade, 200 more electronic and hydraulic side table trolleys and other equipment were procured.

Roof has been turned into junkyard; Rs50m worth of furniture ‘missing’

In 2015, the Punjab health department had launched a project to upgrade district headquarters hospitals across the province. The Narowal DHQ hospital was also revamped on the direction of the Punjab government.

Beds, side tables, trolleys, seating arrangement for attendants, emergency ward beds, equipment, operation theatre beds, windows and even doors were replaced.

Electronic and hydraulic beds and other equipment worth Rs70 million purchased earlier were discarded.

In 2017, the chief executive officer (health) had purchased 100 more state-of-the-art beds and other equipment for the hospital.

Dr. Fazal Karim and Dr. Naseem Ashraf [of DHQ hospital] said resources were squandered as [almost] new furniture worth Rs3m was dumped on the roof of the hospital. Paramedics Muhammad Abdullah and Sanaullah alleged that the administration and doctors shifted the furniture to their private clinics and hospitals.

According to [DHQ hospital] sources, discarded equipment had not been auctioned for the last 10 years.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr. Hafiz Mohammad Khalid said he would seek a report from the medical superintendent.

Narowal Deputy Commissioner/Chairman District Health Authority Zaheer Hassan said he had taken notice of the alleged corruption and irregularities at the hospital and sought a report from the health CEO.

The DC said the [hospital] records would be thoroughly examined and an inquiry would be held. He said stern action would be taken against those found responsible for irregularities.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021