NAROWAL, Nov 23: Some doctors and paramedics posted since long at the DHQ hospital here have reportedly established a nexus operating to benefit their private businesses by denying patients the facilities offered by the state-run institution.

It has been learnt that many doctors posted at the facility are running their own hospitals or clinics in the city. Many a patient visiting the DHQ hospital is referred by theses doctors and paramedics to the private clinics for their treatment.

The patients are allegedly neglected by the doctors as well as paramedics at the DHQ hospital, forcing them to visit the private clinics where they have to pay heavy charges. Sources say the paramedics who refer patients to private hospitals get hefty commissions for acting as marketing agents for theses .

Because of remaining posted at the DHQ hospital for long periods, which in some cases spans two decades, the members of the ‘network’ have developed links with those who matter and are operating without any fear, they add.

It is learnt that the period of posting of Dr Imtiaz Ahmed Chatha (Medical Officer) at the hospital is 18 years, of Dr Saadat Ali; (MO) 21 years, of Dr Afzal Ahmed (assistant medical superintendent); 11 years, Dr Tariq; 17 years and Dr Shahida Tariq (MO) has been posted at the hospital for the last 14 years. Similarly, most of the paramedics have been working at the hospital for well over a decade.

Some patients, requesting anonymity, said they were denied free medicines by the hospital staff, alleging some of them (staffers) were involved in the sale of the hospital medicines in the market.

Kamran, Muhammad Afzal and Munir Ahmed, all residents of Narowal, said some of the hospital staffers and doctors favour each other whenever a complaint is filed against any of them.

They appealed to the health authorities to take immediate steps to break that anti-patient nexus.

The hospital MS, Dr Qari Muhammad Abbas, admitted the health department had not transferred the hospital staff since long. However, he claimed nobody was involved in the sale of medicines in the market. He also claimed the hospital was providing free medicines to the patients.

Health EDO Dr Akmal Khurshid said a member of the hospital staff could be transferred if any complaint against him or her was found to be true.—Abid Mahmood Amir