KTH spokesman gives reasons for delay in sunken patio construction

PESHAWAR: A spokesman for the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) said on Friday the Board of Governors (BoG) in its 49th meeting held on February 27 had approved the construction of sunken patio on both sides (eastern and western) but due to the heavy installation on the western side, the construction work of eastern side was delayed due to a canteen in the same area.

He was responding to a media report on the issue. The KTH administration and its BoG were widely criticised for their continuous failure to get the canteen vacated and enable the contractor to construct an entrance to the basement.

The hospital had spent millions of funds on outpatient departments in the basement in addition to waiting areas and offices. In a statement, the KTH spokesman confirmed that the construction work was initiated after the canteen was removed and the area was cleared to the contractor.

As feared by the faculty members that neither the BoG nor the hospital administration would be able to build the western side of the entrance to the basement, the spokesman argued that construction work on western side will be started after the completion of eastern side and immediately by shifting MRI generator, OPD counter, canteen and ramp.

He claimed that contractor of canteen has agreed to vacate the western side within “couple days” when the generator and OPD counter will be shifted. The spokesman believed there some anti-institutional elements were out to defame the institution and the BoG as well, but he didn’t deny reports that renovation and beautification project worth millions of rupees was launched four years ago and was yet to be completed.

Senior faculty members of KTH complained that the government had given millions of funds for renovation and beautification of the hospital but most of the funds, they alleged, were either wasted or embezzled by certain influential people. “Unfortunately, neither patient care was improved nor new specialities were developed in the KTH. Most of the BoG members were accused of serving their vested interests or those who brought them to this position,” said one senior faculty member. He argued that it was apparently one of the reasons the government decided to replace some of the BoG members. He, however, claimed that some of the BoG members accused of corruption and mismanagement had managed to retain their positions in the BoG. “Funds meant for patient care and institutional development are being misused by hiring highly paid consultants. A former Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf parliamentarian had unnecessarily imposed himself on the KTH as a consultant and he has no contribution,” said the official of the hospital. The KTH spokesman, however, said the renovation was delayed due to previous management tenure which was noticed by provincial government and BoG.