KARACHI: The state-of-the-art building of the trauma centre in the Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences (SASIMS) in Sehwan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s native town, remains unused because of delays in the preparation of the schedule of new expenditure (SNE), it emerged on Monday.

Sources said the SNE for the trauma centre had not yet been prepared by the provincial government, which, eventually, hindered the proper functioning of the trauma centre that required scores of specialists and supporting staff.

The expensive equipment in the building was also getting spoiled with the passage of time and little was being done to maintain them.

Reports coming from Sehwan show that staffs of the SASIMS have been protesting for the last one and a half months for recruitment of the staff required to run the institute properly.

Besides, the sources said that the building of the trauma centre was completed already, but there was no action from the provincial government showing their intent to open it with the required staff and facilities.

Officials in the Sindh government said the delay in the preparation of the SNE was the chief cause to be blamed for the delay in the formal opening of the trauma centre.

Similarly, some 96 doctors were to be appointed for the SASIMS in its original plan, yet, just eight doctors had been employed as yet diluting the very objective given by the provincial authorities behind establishment of the institute.

The Sindh Assembly had granted approval for setting up the SASIMS in Sehwan in March 2012 during the previous PPP government of ex-chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.

The institute was named after former chief minister of Sindh Syed Abdullah Shah in recognition of his services to the health sector during his tenure (1993-96).

His son, then finance minister and now himself the chief minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, had told the house that the purpose of setting up the institute in Sehwan was to provide quality health facilities in the city and its surrounding areas.

“The Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences Bill, 2012, was passed into law with a view to providing modern medical facilities in Sehwan and undertaking postgraduate teaching programmes for advancement of medical sciences in the district,” said a lawmaker belonging to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.

He claimed Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was aware of the situation and soon it would be functioning to the very objective it was established for.

“The health sector is among the top priorities of the chief minister, and he is taking care of all such schemes to run in a proper manner,” said an official in the Sindh government.

By establishing the SASIMS, the taluka hospital Sewhan and other health facilities of the region with scattered populations have been connected with the institute.

The promise was to upgrade the health facilities in the present chief minister’s native town; yet, it needs the political will on the part of the government to fulfil its promise, said an official in the health ministry.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016