ISLAMABAD: While the number of Covid-19 cases continued increasing in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, 30 dispensaries of Polyclinic, including 13 on Constitution Avenue, have been closed to protect the health professionals and patients against the virus.

The decision will create hardship for patients with diabetes and cardiac issues as they used to get free medicines and insulin from these health centres.

According to a letter from the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), all dispensaries and outpatient departments (OPDs) of hospitals have been closed.

The letter said: “In compliance of decision took [sic] by the National Coordination Committee regarding preventive and precautionary measures to control Covid-19, all hospitals and medical institutions in Islamabad working under administrative control of Ministry of NHS are advised to close all OPDs.”

Decision was taken to protect health professionals and patients from Covid-19, says ministry

It said the number of indoor patients be decreased gradually to create space for Covid-19 patients. Moreover, hospital heads have been directed that no leave request of medical and paramedical staff be entertained and their attendance shall be ensured.

A doctor of Polyclinic, requesting not to be quoted, said 30 dispensaries of the hospital had been closed along with the OPDs of the hospital.

He confirmed that 13 dispensaries located on Constitution Avenue had been shut.

“These dispensaries are at the Prime Minister Office, President House and colony, Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, Foreign Office, Federal Board of Revenue and the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he said.

Dispensaries were also operating in Parliament Lodges, different blocks of Pak Secretariat, Federal Public Service Commission and Gulshan-i-Jinnah. Other dispensaries are located in different sectors of Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said because of the decision a large number of patients will suffer as it has been decided that in future only emergency cases will be entertained at the hospital.

“I believe that because of the decision diabetic and cardiac patients will suffer the most as they used to get free medicines from the hospital and dispensaries. Majority of diabetic patients cannot buy insulin worth Rs500. I fear that they cannot afford to buy the medicine from the market,” he said.

When contacted, Polyclinic’s media coordinator Dr Imtiaz Ahmed confirmed that all the dispensaries had been closed after a notification was issued by the ministry.

“In case of emergency, people can visit the emergency department of the hospital as only emergency cases are entertained,” he said.

Dr Imtiaz had no answer when asked what would happen to those patients who were provided with free medicines at the dispensaries and hospital.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020