July 16, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 15: Negli-gence at the Capital Hospital has resulted in a loss of Rs2.6 million to the exchequer, hospital sources told Dawn on Monday.

The hospital administration had installed an ECG machine in the emergency department, which was stolen, causing a loss of Rs0.200 million.

An inquiry was initiated to probe the theft but no one was charged. A case was, however, lodged with the local police.

The audit department had also pointed out the negligence of the officials concerned, which lead to the machine being stolen.

It said the replies of the administration were unsatisfactory and they had failed to provide any record to the audit department regarding the inquiry.

The source disclosed that medicines worth Rs2.4 million have also been stolen from the hospital but no action was taken against the concerned officials. A probe was ordered, but no decision was taken in this regard.

A senior CDA official confirmed both cases of theft and claimed that hospital employees were not involved.

The executive director of the hospital, Dr Manzoor Ahmed recently sent a proposal to the CDA, chairman Mir Laiq Shah suggesting that employees, who go to the hospital for treatment should not be given monthly medical allowance.

The CDA employees expressing concern over the proposal said the hospital had failed to provide complete medical cover therefore they required medical allowance too.

Patients at the hospital said the hospital was always short on medicines.

They said the high-ups in the CDA were allowed local purchase of medicines but this facility was not extended the employees from grade 1 to 16.