04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Sept 3: The slow pace of renovation work at Lyari General Hospital has been causing problems for patients and staff members, a survey shows.

The plan to improve the infrastructure facilities had been launched in May last for which the government had approved Rs12 million funds. To execute the first phase Rs3 million fund was released.

The funds were meant for improvement of infrastructural facilities, including repair of drainage system, operation theatre, lift services, doors, windows, and lavatories. However, the staff members and visiting patients complained that the work was very slow and there was a complete mess mainly due to the bad planning by a development agency.

The Patients Welfare Society's president admitted that the "situation is very grim", and said that he brought the matter into the notice of the officials concerned to expedite the work.

He said that washrooms in the OPD section and wards were demolished without taking into consideration the sufferings of patients and staff. He said: "Around 1,500 patients come to OPD section every day and obviously they have to use washrooms." In certain wards, men and women had to use the same washrooms due to mismanagement and non-availability of adequate facility, he added.

No proper renovation had been carried out at the hospital since its inception. The hospital has been facing water shortage problem, which sometimes led to postponement of surgeries.

The sewerage system is also defective, which is causing see pages in the entire building. When contacted, Medical Superintendent Ali Nawaz Khoso also expressed his dissatisfaction over the quality of work and said that he had brought the matter into the notice of high-ups for necessary action.