The Punjab government has purchased body cameras to ensure transparency in hospitals.
The Punjab government had decided to equip hospital staff with body cameras to ensure transparency, and progress has been made with the purchase of the cameras. However, the plan to install them has been limited.
Sources said that in the first phase, pharmacists, storekeepers, and security supervisors will be equipped with body cameras, while it has been decided so far not to provide body cameras to nurses.
According to the report, Ganga Ram Hospital has purchased 25 body cameras, Jinnah Hospital 35, General Hospital 25, Services Hospital 20, and Children’s Hospital more than 25 body cameras, while Mayo Hospital will purchase body cameras after board approval.
Sources said that the mentioned hospitals purchased body cameras with one day backup instead of 30 day backup. A body camera with 30 day backup costs Rs150,000, while a one day backup body camera costs Rs7,000. However, hospital administration stated that body camera footage will be deleted after being stored for one month.
The administration said that due to high demand, body cameras have started being sold on the black market, and the Rs7,000 body camera is now being sold for Rs10,000. Hospital administrations are avoiding the purchase of expensive body cameras due to fear of financial audits.
