PESHAWAR: Besides the sale of blood from the hospital’s blood bank to private
clinics, the Special Branch of the Police has unearthed other irregularities also at the
Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH).
Copies of the investigation carried out by the Police Special Branch have been sent to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and secretary health.One of its findings was that the staff of the blood bank, situated in the basement of the hospital, was involved in selling the blood to private clinics.
The reports was compiled after interviewing employees and observing the conditions at the hospital. It noted that the hospital has become a “major source of illegal income for a few corrupt officials causing huge financial losses to the hospital resources and the exchequer.”
It highlighted the unnecessary shops, restaurants, juice points and the ‘tandoor’ at the KTH run by people favoured by the hospital authorities. The report said that sophisticated machines like MRI machine were out-of-order when the investigation was conducted and the patients were being referred to private laboratories for tests in return for commission.
It noted that around 2,000 patients belonging to far-flung areas come to the hospital daily to the OPD of the hospital for treatment. A Police Special Branch official said millions of rupees had been spent on repairing the air-conditioning plant of the hospital but the patients and their attendants continued to suffer when it was out of order and during power outages.
“The hospital lacks own power plant or effective electricity generating system which adds to the suffering of ailing persons,” the report stated.The report termed conditions of almost all the wards, particularly the children ward, unsatisfactory, where three to four patients are accommodated on one bed, transferring infections from seriously sick children to normal kids, apparently for lack of space and growing number of patients.
It also stated that elevators were not functioning properly and sanitation arrangements in the wards were unsatisfactory. It added that toilets in the wards remain dirty. “Gynae ward and labour rooms are located on the second floor of the hospital due to which female patients (pregnant) face difficulties when going to the ward through stairs,” the report explained.
It said some doctors seldom visit the wards during the morning rounds. The report noted that sanitation staff only cleans main ways and corridors. It said the canteens run by private contractors overcharged patients and attendants.
The report said vehicle checking on both sides of the hospital and their parking was unsatisfactory. “The security system at the hospital premises is not up to the mark. Acts of terror may not be ruled out if the security system is not improved. Ward orderlies are also involved in monetary corruption/taking money from the patients for providing them wheelchairs and allowing attendants to meet their patients,” it said.It said the irregularities were earning a bad name for the newly installed PTI government because for a layman a good hospital means a good government.
