BAHAWALPUR: The Channi Goth police claimed on Thursday to have seized an unclaimed stock of life-saving drugs worth hundreds of thousands of rupees from a nearby canal bridge at the national highway.

The medicines packed in several bags were lying abandoned on the road. Police spokesman Umar Saleem confirmed to Dawn that stock of medicines was recovered from a place on the road. He said the medicines bore the stamps of the Punjab government. He said police registered a complaint and handed the stock over to the officials of Ahmadpur East health department.

When contacted, the health officials said the medicines pertained to blood pressure and other diseases. Further investigation is under way.

RICKSHAW DRIVERS: Rickshaw drivers on Thursday staged a protest demonstration against traffic police.

They assembled at Farid Gate and raised slogans against traffic police. The drivers alleged that traffic police personnel demanded Eidi. They alleged that on their refusal to pay Eidi, the police officials challaned them.

WALK: A walk to create awareness about AIDS was organised here on Thursday at Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

The walk was led by BVH Medical Superintendent Dr Azizur Rehman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Farhat Abbas Mohsin of district health authority (DHA). A large number of employees of the health department participated in the walk.

SHORTAGE: Taking notice of complaints of shortage and unavailability of medicines at the government health facilities, Deputy Commissioner Shozeb Saeed ordered CEO Dr. Farhat Abbas Mohsin to do away with the dearth of medicines at all health units basic and rural health centres and THQ hospitals across the district.

These complaints were brought to the notice of the DC at the meeting of citizen feedback monitoring programme held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner.

During the meeting, the complaints received from the citizens were scrutinised. The meeting was informed that the maximum complaints of the citizens were against the unavailability of medicines.

The DC ordered the health authority to ensure 100 per cent supply of medicines to patients.

The meeting was told that 7pc of citizens complaints were about late response of Rescue 1122 ambulances.

The DC also ordered action against the employees of land record centres over their alleged misbehaviour with the people.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2019