THE entire Balochistan province has never received the attention it deserves by successive governments, and the densely populated city of Usta Mohammad is not an exception. People in the city are deprived of the most basic of their rights, such as education and healthcare.

There is a state-run hospital in the centre of the city which receives millions of funds every year but fails to provide proper treatment to patients. The hospital has a decent building and doctors who are not incompetent, but the menace of corruption is rampant and affects its functioning just as is the case with any other government department. The medicines meant for patients coming to the hospital are sold in the market at high prices.

I had an accident a few days ago and had to go to the hospital to get treatment. It was an utter disappointment to know that the necessary medicines, including painkillers and antibiotics, were not available. I later went to a private hospital for treatment. Other patients were also distressed with the shortage of medicines and equipment. Most of them could not afford to go to a private facility.

The government is requested to look into the matter and take the hospital administration to task for its misconduct. I urge the provincial government and all the relevant anti-corruption departments to solve this problem and terminate the services of health officials found involved in corruption.

Waqar Ahmed Jamali

Usta Mohammad, Balochistan

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2021