0
LAHORE, March 16: Medicines have not been purchased for 91 dispensaries and two hospitals of the City District Government so far because of procedural snags.
Health institutions in the Punjab have been facing acute shortage of emergency medicines, consumables and other items because no ‘meaningful’ purchases can be made after the introduction of devolution plan.
The shortage of essential items has also made the pathology laboratories and radiology departments inoperative in most of the institutions in the province.
Under the devolution plan, district governments have been given the task of medicines procurement but without envisaging a clear procedure.
Medicines were purchased for the 91 dispensaries and two hospitals of the defunct metropolitan corporation of Lahore over a year ago.
The City District Government allocated over Rs200 million for the dispensaries and hospitals in the current year’s budget approved more than three months back but has yet to complete the formalities for medicine purchase.
MOSQUITO: Due to non-availability of insecticides with the Epidemic Control Wing of the district government mosquito population is growing fast in the provincial metropolis.
Failure of the district government to check mosquito breeding has become a boon for the manufacturers of anti-mosquito coils, mats and sprays who are minting money by selling their products at exorbitant prices.
Insecticides purchased by the defunct Metropolitan Corporation of Lahore over a year ago have been utilized long ago. Only three of the eight fogging machines used in the residential areas are in order but there is no insecticide for mixing in the diesel used for producing the fog. The request for new fogging machines is pending along with the request for medicine purchase.
