THIS is apropos the takeover of Sheikh Zaid Hospital, Lahore, by the Punjab government, in the wake of the 18th Amendment. Being a Punjab government employee, I was delighted to know a good hospital would be available to the Punjab government employees for treatment as it was being funded by the Punjab government, and public servants belonging to Punjab were now being entitled to free treatment.

Being a senior officer in the health department (not a doctor) in BS-19, I took the docket and went to Sheikh Zaid Hospital for the admission of my daughter. I was shocked when they refused to entertain Punjab government employees.

I confirmed from the Punjab health department the entitlement of provincial employees. But the hospital administration refused to accommodate her. They said that only the federal government employees were entitled and there was litigation under way at Lahore High Court regarding the takeover by the Punjab government.

I think the provincial government failed to provide state-of-the-art health facilities to its employees. The employees are forced to seek poor treatment at other hospitals where doctors treat them half-heartedly raising their eyebrows as if they are doing a favour to them.

I request the Punjab chief secretary to take note of this apathy.

A Punjab govt employee

Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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