KARACHI: The Breast Cancer Diagnostic Centre at the Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad has fallen into disuse after authorities left the project halfway.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the cancer centre was held more than 13 years ago, but it had not been fully ready despite spending millions of rupees.

The story of one of the largest treatment centres for breast cancer patients in the city is interesting and depressing at the same time.

The centre, which is situated in the heart of the city in its densely-populated Central district, was inaugurated in 2006 (the date is inscribed in the foundation stone right at its entrance) but after more than a decade it has yet to become operational and serve the purpose.

An official and a source privy to the history of the facility said that a few years ago a fire broke out in the centre and burned its multimillion-rupee equipment and other necessary items.

No one knows whether any inquiry was initiated after the fire. However, it is now no secret that the breast cancer diagnostic centre is being used as a storage facility of the Sindh Govt Hospital Liaquatabad, where one can find rotting furniture and other rejected items of the hospital.

In a city where millions cannot afford quality healthcare, and despite considerable budgets for public-sector health programmes, such misuse of the taxpayer’s money is nothing short of criminal.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2019