OKARA: The 60-bed Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital of Renala Khurd has yet to be handed over to the health department despite its completion in 2017.

The Renala Khurd Rural Health Centre (RHC) was upgraded as the THQ some 10 years back when Renala Khurd was elevated as subdivision from its more than two decades status as Renala tehsil. The THQ hospital was constructed on the premises of the Renala RHC in 2012 but it took five years to complete the building due to non-availability of funds.

Two weeks back, Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid visited the Okara District Headquarters Hospital (city) where a Renala-based journalist pointed out the non-functional building of the THQ Hospital .The minister took notice of the situation and directed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Maryam Khan to look into the matter and engage the district health authority.

On July 1, the DC along with Health Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Abdul Majeed visited the hospital building and after her strict directions, the building doors were opened.

On Thursday, this correspondent visited the hospital building on the southern side of GT Road. The THQ Hospital has its main entrance gate facing the minor canal but there is no connecting road. Patients have to approach the colony street using old RHC-Renala.

This correspondent met RHC in charge Dr Uzma Fazal who said three medical officers were attending patients. In the new building, Mr Kashif told this correspondent that the new SNE had been approved for fresh appointment of seven medical officers and two women medical officers.

The posts of medical superintendent, pediatrician, ophthalmologist, radiologist, pathologist, physician, gynecologist, orthopaedist and general surgeon and their related paramedics and lower staff had been approved. Also, a pathology lab, X-ray machines and dental sections have yet to be installed. The hospital, once functional, will cater to urban and rural population of Renala.

As the Renala THQ Hospital gets functional, heavy rush of patients and those injured in road accidents on the Okara DHQ Hopsoital will go down.

Renala Bar President Mian Naeem Bashir Kamyana and senior advocate Chaudhry Tahir Naeem said the opening of the THQ Hospital would be a breakthrough. They said they briefed MNAs and MPAs of the area in past but they never raised this issue with higher authorities.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2019