PESHAWAR: The chances to make operational a new 350-bed hospital in Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency, have faded with the cancellation of the contract inked with a private organisation, which was supposed to start functions in four new buildings and expand healthcare services.

The directorate of health Fata had planned to outsource 10 health facilities to private organisations under the public-private partnership initiative. Three such health facilities, one each in South Waziristan, Orakzai and Khyber Agency, had been handed over to the NGOs.

However, a new additional chief secretary, who took charge one and half month ago, cancelled the contract on November 29 due to which the NGO left the agency headquarters hospital in Landi Kotal.

They said that the contract was cancelled because it had no legal cover and many high-ranking officials, who opposed the contract, were transferred recently. They said that construction of the new building was started in 2010 and was supposed to be completed by 2013 but it faced a long delay and ultimately it was handed over to the directorate of health in 2017. It was built at a cost of Rs400 million to become a tertiary care hospital for the entire Khyber Agency.

Contract inked with NGO for outsourcing health facility cancelled

Sources said at the time of its approval, the health officials concerned had suggested that the new hospital should be set up in Takhta Baig area to facilitate not only the population of three tehsils of Khyber Agency but also of the adjacent villages of Peshawar district.

However, the suggestion was declined because the then elected representative wanted it in Landi Kotal where the old agency headquarters hospital is located.

Sources feared that water shortage at the existing location could hamper performance of the hospital. “There is extreme shortage of water in the area,” they added.

Two months ago, the NGO, Merf, began working there and it was hoped that the new hospital would see light of the day. The Landi Kotal hospital was the third health facility to be taken over by NGO where the process to hand over equipment and infrastructure was underway.

The NGO has unpacked huge quantity of medical equipment including dialysis machines, high-tech imaging machines and laparoscopes that were purchased in 2012 at a cost of Rs150 million but remained locked. All the purchased items had outlived their warranty period for which the manufacturers were being contacted.

Sources said that the NGO was in the process to start hospital in four new buildings, which hadn’t been used yet. Local administration has been requesting the authorities to provide 1250 staffers including 250 doctors to start the new hospital but all such requests have fallen on deaf ears.

One year ago, a committee comprising senators also visited the site and inspected the infrastructure to pave way for reopening of the new facility but to no avail. That was followed by formation of a committee under political administration but nothing happened.

Officials told Dawn that the existing 100-bed hospital had an annual OPD of 23,000 patients in medicines surgery, ENT, eye, pathology and cardiology apart from a functional labour room with 600 births every month. They said that the hospital had 188 employees including 40 doctors but number of patients was increasing. The new hospital was needed because most patients were transported to Peshawar, they added.

The director health Fata did not attend telephone calls made this scribe to seek his version.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017