KOHAT: The administration of KDA teaching hospital has not bought a single machine or equipment since upgradation of the facility in 2017.

An official estimate made available to this correspondent said that in 2017 a competent provincial authority had approved Rs179 million for the upgradation of the hospital and purchase of machinery for its trauma and burns centers. However, after lapse of one year no machinery had been bought.

About 60 posts of specialists, surgeons and medical officers were also lying vacant for the last several years.

Members of a social organisation have been staging weekly protests to draw the attention of authorities to lack of facilities in the hospital. They said that despite its upgradation the patients with head injuries, heart ailment and bullet injuries were being referred to Peshawar, which was a clear proof that the hospital was not a Category-A facility.

An official of the hospital, Rashid Bokahri, claimed that former MS Mohammad Ali Chohan was about to make purchase of the needed equipment, but he was transferred.

Mr Bukhari said he was not aware of any such grant of Rs179 million released to the hospital by the provincial health department.

DENGUE PREVENTION: Deputy commissioner Khalid Ilyas has directed the health and other relevant departments to submit a report about prevention of dengue within a week so that timely precautions can been taken.

Chairing a meeting in his office, he asked the health officials to start spray in the district and involve prayer leaders, patwaris, teachers and police in the anti-dengue awareness campaign.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2018