CM scolds DCO, MS over poor condition at hospital

LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Tuesday paid a two and a half hours long surprise visit to District Headquarters Hospital Kasur.
He reached the hospital by an ordinary coach without protocol and checked the medical facilities available to the patients. He went to different wards of the hospital and inquired after the patients and asked about medical assistance being provided to them. He expressed his strong indignation over the poor sanitary conditions in the hospital, filth in toilets, non-availability of water and lights and dirty bed sheets and strongly reprimanded the hospital administration. He issued instructions for immediate improvement of cleanliness arrangements in the hospital.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of District Coordination Officer Kasur, Medical Superintendent of District Headquarters Hospital and EDO Health and said that provision of best medical facilities in the hospital was their responsibility which they failed to perform. He said that he was disappointed with the arrangements for the provision of medical facilities in the hospital as well as the condition of wards.
According to a handout, talking to reporters and patients on this occasion, the chief minister said that those who did not serve the ailing humanity had no right to stay on their posts. He said the Punjab government was spending billions of rupees on improving the condition of hospitals and provision of quality treatment facilities to the patients. He said that improper use of funds was a criminal negligence.
He said that the benefits of the resources spent for the improvement of medical facilities in hospitals should reach the masses and hospital’s administration would have to improve the conditions and provide best medical facilities to the patients.
Taking notice of poor cleanliness conditions in wards and non-availability of medicines in DHQ Hospital Kasur, he said the officials concerned would be held accountable and those guilty of negligence would be punished. Taking notice of filthy condition of hospital toilets and non-availability of water and lights, he expressed his extreme displeasure and said that absence of basic facilities for patients in the hospital was a big question mark on the efficiency of hospital administration and Health Department authorities.
Taking action on the complaint of non-availability of medicines in the hospital ordered scrutiny of the record of medicines supplied and used in the hospital, he said that those found involved in negligence would not escape punishment. He said that he was shocked over the state of affairs of District Headquarters Hospital and added that had the institutions concerned and the administration paid attention the situation would have been different. He said that wastage of resources provided for the provision of medical facilities to the masses would not be allowed. He said that no negligence would be tolerated in the provision of best and timely medical assistance to the patients in hospital and authorities concerned would have to improve the situation. He said that DCO, MS of the hospital and EDO Health should be ashamed of the condition of the hospital.
The attendants of the patients while complaining to the CM said that they were asked to buy medicines from market. The CM ordered DCO to immediately return the money spent by the patients on the purchase of medicines. He said that service to ailing humanity was rewarded by Allah Almighty in this world and also in the world hereafter. He expressed indignation over dirty bed sheets in hospital wards as well as the overall cleanliness conditions. He ordered scrutiny of the record of medicine stock and sought a report at the earliest.
Our Correspondent from Kasur adds:
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif constituted special team to find out the responsible and tread out the corruption at DHQ Hospital.
He said that the health matters could not run in this way during his tenure.
It is learnt that DCO Kasur was informed some couple of hours ago about the arrival of CM but was given instructions to keep it secret from others including media persons.
Seeing the reporters and PML-N workers outside the DHQ Hospital, the CM expressed his anger over the DCO for leaking the secret.
However, the personal security of the CM did not allow media and party workers to enter the hospital premises that led to arguments between them.