The Partition saw a huge mass of Muslims march towards Pakistan via Wagha, either by train or on carts, and the Sikhs and Hindus towards India. Many of those who managed to reach Pakistan were critically injured in riots. The Presbyterian American missionaries at FC College, fully realising that their Muslim brethren coming into Lahore via Walton Railway Station needed immediate medical attention, opened their doors and converted two dorms into a medical facility.

At that time there were only a few hospitals like Janki Devi, Mayo, Ganga Ram, and Gulab Devi. They were run mostly by Hindus and Sikhs. After migration, these facilities became almost non-functional, and little staff was left to look after the patients.

Prominent among the missionaries were Dr F Collier, Dr J Vroon, Dr R Blocksma and Dr J Ballard. They chalked out a plan to build a hospital for the Christian community in Lahore where those not belonging to the community would also be treated. Presbyterian American purchased a piece of land, Methodist Church of USA constructed the building with the help of Anglican Church, UK, and the place was named United Christian Hospital (UCH).

Back then, it was a state-of-the-art facility. This was also where Pakistan’s first open-heart surgery was performed, in 1964, by Dr Boss, on a Muslim man who is still alive and based in Lahore. Over the years, this teaching, 250-bed hospital trained nurses and laboratory and X-Ray technicians besides serving people around the globe.

Of late, the situation at the UCH has deteriorated deplorably. The reasons cited are shortage of funds, mismanagement, internal intrigue, the mushroom growth of private hospitals, obsolete and out-of-order medical equipment etc. Out of the five operation theatres, two are closed for want of qualified staff.

Last year, taking suo motu notice of the situation, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) ordered constitution of a steering committee that would make recommendations for improvement. It was suggested that a separate account be created for the purpose of raising funds for the hospital.

Amidst allegations of abuse of authority, the Auditor General of Pakistan was directed to immediately constitute a team that would hold a forensic audit of the UCH for the previous 10 years, and submit a report within six weeks.

Led by Prof Jawad Sajid, the committee submitted a joint proposal for improvement in the state of affairs.

The committee was supposed to comprise seven members from different walks of life including the Christian community, and take charge of the hospital administration and its functions.

Advocate Jabbar A Bernard tells TNS that the matter regarding rehabilitation of the UCH came up for hearing at the Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Prof Jawad Sajid presented proposals and named Christian army officers before three judges of the bench, headed by then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Justice Saqib Nisar. Minutes of the meeting held at FC College were also presented, whereupon the court expressed its concern over the fact that FC College had declined to take over a “collapsed institution.”

The CJP remarked that it was not the duty of the court to rehabilitate the UCH, yet he was trying to revamp it. He appreciated the role of the Christian community, and heard Dr Peter J David who offered a detailed plan and announced a Rs 10 million donation. Bishop Azad Marshal also announced a Rs 1 million donation for the UCH.

The CJP also announced a Rs 0.1 million contribution, and ordered that a separate bank account be opened in the name of UCH rehabilitation. He suggested that a Steering Committee be formed that should include professionals and Christian army officers etc. The committee was supposed to start monitoring the professional, financial, and administrative activities at the UCH on a monthly basis.

Later, there was a detailed hearing, and various names came up for appointment as members of the Steering Committee. Correspondingly, the names of Shunila Ruth, MNA (PTI), and Anthony Samuel, Secretary General, Pakistan Bible Society, were removed from the board by the Supreme Court. The CJP made it clear in the open court that after his retirement, in addition to his fundraising campaign for the construction of Basha Dam, he would continue to raise money for UCH, inside Pakistan and abroad.

The detailed order has not so far been written, and as soon as it becomes available, names of the Steering Committee members and the extent of their jurisdiction and powers will become known.

Ijaz Alam Augustine, the Punjab minister for human rights and minorities affairs, Punjab, stated before the court that funds available for minorities’ projects would be diverted to UCH improvement fund. Similarly, Shunila Ruth assured the court she would take up the issue of UCH funding with the prime minister.

According to Imran Titus Bhatti, the UCH administrator, the Steering Committee held meetings on the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and submitted their reports. Later, the committee was dissolved.

He further reveals that the required audit (for the previous 10 years) was carried out and a separate bank account opened, and all instructions of the Supreme Court were followed.

Bhatti says that all the foreign missionaries responsible for operating the hospital have quit, leaving its control in the hands of the locals. He claims that the locals “are managing the hospital and facing difficulties. In its heyday, the hospital had boasted 450-odd employees, and there would be no vacant bed seen, till the year 2000.”

Later, as private hospitals equipped with modern technology and foreign qualified doctors, came up, it caused a slump in patient flow to the UCH that now looked like some antiquated place.

In order to revamp the hospital and make it fully functional, the present management requested the Punjab government for an initial amount of Rs 400-500 million. They only got Rs 5.65 million.

Currently, the number of employees has diminished to 82, there are fewer patients, causing huge deficit to UCH every month, and making it hard for the administration to pay bills and salaries. The management is compelled to look into options to raise funds, such as renting out their pharmacy as well as a portion of land to Shaukat Khanum Diagnostic Centre.

Bhatti says that the UCH wanted to start its own medical college, with the support of FC College, but the latter denied it all help. “If the idea had materialised, it would have generated huge revenue for the UCH.”

Rev Dr Majeed Able, the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, moderator says that the SC’s order was a ray of hope for the UCH, but he is not aware of the Steering Committee’s findings or audits. The committee, he adds, formed a board but did not include members who had been nominated by the Supreme Court, and went ahead with meetings and negotiated with Shaukat Khanum and Aabpara Pharmacy on its own. “Being the head of Presbyterian Church, I have no knowledge of it, and I am shocked by the decisions the board made.”

He also says that if the Steering Committee is not functional, the previous board must be allowed to work. “We must be reassured that the UCH is in safe hands!”

Dr Peter David, an FC College, board member, says that he had appeared in the Supreme Court and pledged a Rs 10 million donation to the UCH in case a fresh board was formed and a separate fund raising account set up.

He says that he does not trust the present board but is still committed to donating the sum if the situation improves.

The UCH has a remarkable history of serving the community at large, but is now in need of the government attention, a review by the Supreme Court and collective efforts of Christians, both in Pakistan and abroad.