TAXILA: Residents of Jand tehsil in Attock have complained about lack of healthcare facilities at a local health unit and alleged irregularities at a public sector hospital.

Shahid Hussain, one behalf of residents of Bhoramar, in a written complaint to the health department said he and other locals took their newborn children to the basic health unit (BHU) at Gullyal for vaccination. The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is primarily used against tuberculosis.

He said the staff posted at the BHU asked the dozens of people with their newborn babies to wait for vaccination as there was a meeting in progress at the health unit. He complained that after keeping the parents waiting for hours the staff refused to provide them the vaccine and asked them to take their babies to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital Jand.

Mr Hussain said he lodged a complaint with the health authorities and the district administration but no action was taken against the staff.

Meanwhile, some other residents lodged a complaint with the district health authorities and the district administration against an official of the THQ hospital Jand.

Imtiaz Ali, who led the complainants, alleged that the medical superintendent (MS) had been occupying an official residence and was also drawing house rent allowance. He alleged that the official was also misusing an ambulance donated by an oil and gas exploration company and using diesel procured for the hospital generators for it.

The residents alleged that in the past the MS was allowed a share in the laboratory tests when the post of the pathologist remained vacant. But this share was suspended by the health department in July 2019. However, the official was still drawing the share.

The complainants demanded early recovery of the house rent allowance and an audit of the accounts of the laboratory.

When contacted, Deputy District Officer (health) Dr Shahida Khattak said on the application of Mr Hussain, she had ordered an inquiry which would start after Muharram.

She said if the BHU staffers were found guilty of misconduct and negligence strict departmental action would be taken against them.

Regarding allegations against the medical superintendent of the THQ hospital, she said an inquiry had been carried out by the chief executive officer District Health Authority.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Sohail Ejaz told Dawn that the inquiry was being conducted by the deputy commissioner of Attock.

When contacted, DC Ali Annan Qammar said the MS was residing on the premises of the hospital due to official obligation and after intimating the concerned authorities about it. Responding to a question, he said no misuse of the ambulance was proved.

About receiving a share in the laboratory tests by the MS, he said: “We are looking into the matter.”

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2020