BAHAWALPUR: The closure of the main Operation Theatre Complex (OTC) of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) for the last four months has deprived thousands of poor patients visiting the facility for different surgical procedures.

The complex comprising 12 operation theatres was closed when the Punjab government started a “revamping programme” for renovation and repairs at the facility donated by the late ruler of Dubai decades back.

The Punjab government had allocated around Rs130 million for the revamp project at the BVH OTC. However, in June last, the government withdrew the funds for the project, which forced the contractors to slow down the pace of the work. But, later, the contractors pulled out because of non-provision of funds.

As a result, the BVH OTC was locked till the restoration of funds to resume the revamping work, depriving the patients of surgical facilities.The complex serves as a main surgical facility, not only for the patients from Bahawalpur, but also a large number of others traveling to the city from the districts of Lodhran, Bahawalnagar, and other far-flung area.

Due to closure of the complex, the BVH administration shifted the major surgeries to the Government Sadiq Abbas Hospital on Jhangiwali Road, but that too failed to cope with the increasing number of patients awaiting surgeries.

Under these circumstances, the poor and middle-class patients needing urgent surgeries were left at the mercy of private hospitals charging exorbitant fees.

The BVH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Sufia Farrukh was not available for her comments. However, hospital sources say that the BVH administration had submitted an amended PC-1 of the revamp programme to the Punjab government for approval, a few months back.

They say that the proposal was still with the government and till its approval and restoration of funds the complex would remain closed.

Dawn has also learnt that even after the funds release (which is not in sight yet) at least two more months would be required for the completion of the work at the OTC, which also includes installation of lights to conduct the operations.

BVH Medical Superintendent Dr Aamir Bokhari says that in the absence of the main operation theatre complex, only minor operations are being conducted in the emergency operation theatre of the hospital.

However, he says, all the departments also have their own operation theatres, which were fully operative, where surgeries were being conducted in accordance with the needs of the patients. The MS adds that the amended PC-1 worth Rs150 million was pending for approval with the Punjab government and as soon it gets authorities’ nod, the revamping work at the OTC will be resumed to provide relief to the patients awaiting surgeries.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2024