ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar visited Polyclinic on Sunday and told the hospital’s administration that he would play his role to vacate an Islamabad High Court (IHC) stay order that has halted the Polyclinic extension project.

Justice Nisar also directed the administration to ensure every patient receives quality treatment and medication.

The aforementioned project began in 2008 with a decision to build an extension to the hospital on a third - 2.5 acres - of Argentina Park, which is located in front of the hospital.

To visit hospital again on a working day; asks for list of unavailable, out-of-order machines

The project became controversial when the Ministry of Health realised that the Argentinian embassy had funded the construction and maintenance of the park, and the Foreign Office was asked to take up the issue with Argentina.

Argentina allowed for the hospital to be built on the park, and the project was due to start under the last PML-N government but was brought to a halt after residents obtained a stay order from the IHC.

DuringSunday’svisit, the chief justice expressed displeasure with the closure of a dispensary, which he believed should have remained open when the hospital and the emergency ward were open. He also asked why the dispenser took the key to the dispensary home.

He said there were many problems in the hospital and announced that he would visit again on a working day to get a better look of the situation.

Justice Nisar also directed for medicine samples to be collected from the hospital and sent to a laboratory for testing.

He was told by patients at Polyclinic that they had been waiting for an hour but had not been issued slips because the management wanted the hospital to seem less crowded.

The chief justice visited hospital wards, including the intensive care units and the emergency department. He took notice of an out-of-order ventilator and asked for a reportwithin two days.

He also asked for a list of out-of-order or unavailable machines and sought suggestions from the press about how to improve the hospital.

Responding to social media rumours that the chief justice had launched Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s media campaign by visiting hospitals in Rawalpindi, Justice Nisar said he had nothing to do with politics and was only visiting hospitals for the betterment of the health sector.

He also directed the media not to air baseless stories.

The chief justice had earlier visited the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, where he met with patients and was informed by them of the lack of doctors at the hospital.

He also inspected the hospital’s water filtration system and waste management plants, checked drinking water and ordered the authorities to send a water sample for testing.

Strict security arrangements were in place for his visit.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2018