MUZAFFARGARH, Sept 24: A dialysis machine worth Rs30 million has been rusting at the kidney centre of DHQ Hospital since 2001 as no nephrologist or medical technician has been recruited to run the facility, leaving patients to either languish or travel to distant cities for costly treatment.

Former district nazim Sultan Mahmood Hunjra bought the dialysis machine from Baitul Maal funds in 2001, but no nephrologist or paramedic was subsequently posted at the kidney centre to operate the machine.

The kidney centre has been locked since then, eclipsing provincial government’s free dialysis campaigning.

An official said 800 to 1,000 patients visited the hospital daily and most of them were kidney patients, who were later referred to Nishtar Hospital in Multan or some private facilities.

A doctor said he did not see the machine functioning even for a day at the already under-staffed hospital, and now it might not function for lack of maintenance.

Sadiq Baloch of Kot Addu told Dawn his father was a kidney patient who was referred from DHQ Hospital to Nishtar Hospital where he had to pay Rs3,000 per dialysis visit.

Outgoing Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Mushtaq said the hospital needed 12 more doctors and 60 nurses. He said he had advertised the posts but no aspirant turned up.

Sitting MS Dr Wamiq was not available for comments.

—Malik Tahseen Raza