BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government has retracted Rs400 million out of the allocated Rs1.1 billion for the renovation of the outpatients department (OPD) and other nine wards at Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH). Presently, the wards and OPD remain closed to patients.

BVH Medical Superintendent Dr Aamir Bokhari told Dawn that the previous caretaker government had released the funds for BVH’s upgrade and initiated the work in November last year. Patients were relocated from the wards, and the OPD was shifted to Government Nawab Sadiq Hospital on Jhangiwali Road. However, due to adverse weather conditions and other unavoidable circumstances in January, completion of the work was delayed.

Former caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the OPD in February, days before the culmination of the caretaker government period, hoping that the renovation work would be completed soon.

However, after the February elections, the Maryam Nawaz government withheld the remaining funds amounting to Rs400 million, halting the ongoing construction.

This has caused significant inconvenience to patients, who now face difficulties accessing treatment, as BVH’s wards and OPD remain closed.Dr Bukhari said the remaining work of the OPD and nine wards was yet to be carried out and needed the government’s remaining funds, not only Rs400 million but more, as the cost had considerably increased due to inflation. He said he was in touch with his department heads for the reallocation of the required funds to meet the rising estimates of the remaining revamping of the hospital’s buildings. He said he was hopeful that the government would soon release the remaining revamping funds . He added that presently, it was not possible to reopen the OPD and the wards for the patients without completing the works.

He said that as most of BVH’s departments were closed to patients, the government should immediately take stock of the situation regarding the increase in the medicine budget, facilities, and doctors’ strength there, as the completion of the revamping process of BVH health facility may take another six months after the release of the required millions of funds.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2024