Major administrative flaws and complaints of patient exploitation have surfaced at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Rawalpindi.
A 55 page report by the Chief Minister Punjab’s Special Monitoring Unit regarding the District Headquarters Hospital has been revealed.
According to the report, administrative flaws and complaints of patient exploitation have been highlighted at DHQ Rawalpindi, and the report has been sent to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The report states that patients are being asked for unofficial payments and surgeries are facing delays. In the labor room, an entry slip fee of 50 rupees is being charged from every patient. Patients’ tests are conducted outside the hospital at higher rates, and due to a shortage of medicines in the hospital, patients are forced to buy medicines from outside.
The report further revealed expired medicines and heaps of garbage at the hospital pharmacy, absenteeism of staff, and early departure from duty. Moreover, delays in treatment have been reported due to the closure of the Orthopedic OPD. Complaints have also been raised regarding the inappropriate behavior of emergency, OT, and night staff, while the endoscopy machine has been out of order for two weeks, MRI is not available, CCTV cameras are dysfunctional, and security arrangements are almost nonexistent.
It was also highlighted in the report that the washrooms of neuro and surgical wards are filthy and smelly, facilitation counters lack fans and drinking water, radiology is facing staff shortages, security guards are missing, and tiles are broken.
According to the report, patients are not issued computerized slips and must rely on handwritten slips. The hospital’s nutrition center and some counters were found closed before official hours, while the OPD closes at 12 p.m. on Fridays instead of 1 p.m. Dressing rooms have incomplete equipment, with a single dresser overburdened with work.
The report further revealed that there is a lack of proper seating arrangements for patients and attendants, no record of data entry at the hospital’s medical store, and doctors and paramedical staff at DHQ Hospital were found continuously absent.
