IN Pakistan anyone can set up a maternity home, clinic or a hospital as a lucrative business without being assessed for quality service by any government authority.

I recently visited the best private hospital along with my elder sister. I observed lack of availability of basic facilities for patients and their attendants.

The physicians’ fee was too high. There was no proper sitting arrangement for patients and their attendants and no clean drinking water.

Doctors need to diagnose patients properly at public hospitals instead of practising in private hospitals.

The district health administration should take notice and improve public hospitals’ condition so that patients can have their medical treatment at government-run facilities instead of going to costly private hospitals.

Shahryar Ali

Sukkur

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019