NAROWAL, Jan 11: Unauthorised yet excessive use of DHQ Hospital’s ambulances has consumed all the oil and petroleum budget allocated for 2007-2008 within just six months bringing the three ambulances to virtually a halt, Dawn has learnt.

Complete darkness engulfs the DHQ Hospital during power loadshedding at night because hospital’s sole power generator can’t work for want of fuel and the situation has endangered the life of several indoor patients while risking the many others who could be arrested by an emergency any time.

Patients buy candles from market at their own expenses to light during hours-long loadshedding while the abrupt darkness creates panic in hospital wards, especially in the emergency and the children’s ward.

Nasreen, the mother of two-year-old Naveed, said her son got frightened in darkness and started crying, adding to her miseries.

Muhammad Yasin, generator operator of the hospital, told Dawn that the generator was in working order but could not be switched on for want of fuel.

He said the entire budget allocated for fuel of the generator for 2007-2008 had been consumed.

While talking to Dawn, Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Qari Abbas said the hospital received a `meagre’ amount of Rs500,000 annually for fuel of the three ambulances and the generator.

He said he had banned unauthorised use of ambulances, which was a common practice before his takeover as MS. The MS took charge on July 31, 2007, exactly six months ago.

He said that he had moved the health EDO in writing to provide another Rs500,000 as additional budget to cope with the current situation.

Health EDO Dr Muhammad Ashraf, however, said the MS had not contacted him regarding any such problem so far.

But, at the same time, he said he would ensure the provision of fuel for the hospital’s only power generator immediately. He then got the generator operated, but only for a single day.

Citizens have expressed their deep concern over the situation and have urged DCO Tahir Yousaf to take remedial steps.