Health adviser continues late-night visits to hospitals

PESHAWAR: Advisor for Health Ihtisham Ali inspected Nahaqi Satellite Hospital on Charsadda Road.He reviewed the duty roster, attendance register, and medicines while listening to patients’ concerns.

The advisor expressed concerns over instances of mismanagement including absenteeism, and the presence of expired medicines in the hospital.He directed the administration to suspend the Medical Superintendent (MS) and the women medical officer (WMO) and initiate departmental inquiries.

The advisor lamented that no lab or X-ray technicians were present, and the absence of a gynecologist for a patient in need further aggravated the situation. Ihtisham Ali expressed deep concern about the condition of government hospitals, stating: “If our public hospitals are in such disarray, how can we expect to regulate quacks and private clinics?”

“These hospitals remain deserted at night, increasing the burden on larger referral hospitals in Peshawar. If someone comes to the hospital at night, they are simply referred to Lady Reading Hospital .”

Expired medicines were discovered in the emergency cabinet, raising questions about the hospital’s preparedness and management.Meanwhile, responding to social media reports about the absence of Health Department officials in the KP Assembly Standing Committee on Health meeting, the spokesperson for the Department of Health clarified that the KP Assembly and its committees hold paramount importance for the department.

The spokesperson explained that all staff related to Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) were present at the meeting. If any staff members were absent and their presence was deemed necessary, it was not intended to undermine the dignity of the parliamentary process, he added.

It was clarified that the Secretary of Health was in Islamabad to attend an important health-related meeting. Additionally, the Special Secretary and MTI staff attended the committee meeting on time. However, the Director General (DG) Health was unable to attend due to high blood pressure.

The spokesperson reiterated that the absence of certain officials was in no way intended as a disregard for the parliament. Both the secretary of Health and the DG of Health have previously attended all committee meetings in person, he added.