A special monitoring unit report sent to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has revealed alarming conditions in government hospitals.
The 55-page report highlighted a lack of facilities, mismanagement, and financial irregularities in hospitals, including Rawalpindi DHQ. Patients reported demands for unofficial payments and unnecessary delays in surgeries. Instead of computerized slips, handwritten ones are still being used.
The report found that patients are forced to buy costly medicines and tests from outside rather than receiving free treatment inside hospitals. Expired medicines were discovered in hospital pharmacies along with unhygienic conditions, while records showed serious irregularities.
Complaints included staff absenteeism, early duty exit, and unprofessional behavior in emergency, operation theaters, and night shifts. The endoscopy machine has been out of order for two weeks, and MRI services are not available at all. Security arrangements are poor, with CCTV cameras not working.
It was also revealed that in labor rooms, each patient is charged Rs. 50 unofficially, and medical store records lack proper data entry.
According to sources, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken notice of the report and sought clarification from officials, indicating that corrective measures will be introduced soon.
