SIALKOT: Patients lie on the floor of the laboratory corridor while officials go from one patient to another to get blood sample and for other tests.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Dr Asif Tufail saw these scenes in the government-run Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital and Sardar Begum Memorial Hospital on Thursday.

Khawja Muhammad Safdar Medical College Principal Prof Dr Zafar Ali Chaudhry and Executive District Officer Dr Javaid Warraich were also present.The DCO expressed his concern over the mistreatment of patients and ordered an inquiry into the issue. He also ordered the establishment of sample collection centres for lab work in government health facilities in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur.

The pathetic condition of the labs was not which dismayed the DCO. Patients complained about the late arrival of doctors in outpatient departments. The DCO also visited tehsil headquarters hospitals in Kotli Loharaan and Sambrial.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2016