SWABI: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice retired Arshad Hussain Shah paid a surprise visit to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahm-ansoor, here on Friday just a day after its management had increased fees for patients.

The unplanned visit was a big surprise for officials of the district administration, the police and hospital management.

Justice Shah visited the outpatient department, emergency, intensive care unit, laboratory, medical and other wards, and also interacted with patients.

A doctor told Dawn the chief minister didn’t discuss the burning issue of hike in fees by the management of the hospital, which was converted into a Medical Teaching Institution by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government.

Meanwhile, patients and their attendants complained they expected the chief minister to order withdrawal of the fee hike, but he didn’t do so.

A statement issued by the hospital’s media manager said the management briefed the chief minister on the ongoing development works in the health facility.

The chief minister also visited the police command and control room and inspected functioning of CCTV cameras.

He also visited the revenue office. Earlier, he visited a public sector school while on way to the district headquarters.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2023