PESHAWAR, May 10: Despite the introduction of institution- based practice (IBP) some two months back at the public sector health care institutions its benefits have not been seen yet, many stake-holders told Dawn.

“The same consultation fee, Rs300, is being charged from patients both at the IBP and private clinics,” said a patient at Hayatabad Medical Complex.

A doctor said that the patients generally have to wait for hours to get tests done at the only laboratory at the hospital. But at private medical centres, there were various options open to them.

And when the test reports are finally ready it is hard to get hold of the required consultant.

Many of the difficulties faced by the patients at the IBP are linked to the shortage of staff and required infrastructure.

Recently, the administration of Khyber Teaching Hospital has extended the IBP timings by one hour. This has meant some relief for the patients.

Three months back, a patient was diagnosed with cancer after tests done at a private laboratory. His son, a doctor, was able to get the same tests done at two other laboratories, and the results were normal. He had a choice so he availed it.

On the contrary, at the IBP the patients have to accept the result of the only hospital laboratory.

Most patients have complained that they were not getting proper care at the public sector hospital.

At the private hospitals, the surgeons, after operating on the patients are on call. But at the IBP, the patients are left at the mercy of junior nurses specially at night. This creates problems for the patients needing post-operative care.

At the public sector hospitals where IBP is operational since March 1, 2002, there are no regular night shifts.

“The IBP was started at the state-run hospitals without doing any homework. And its managers are not aware of the shortcomings of the system,” said a surgeon.

According to him, if the anomalies were not corrected, the IBP is destined to collapse because it has to compete with the private medical centres.

Before the start of the IBP, the seriously ill patients who came through the emergency department were admitted to the hospital upon the payment of Rs5 for OPD slip. Now, they have to pay Rs300 as consultation fee in addition to the investigation charges.

Moreover, the charges for surgical operation, investigations, private rooms and medicines are the same as that of the private medical centres.

The IBP managers, however, argue that they are providing almost all facilities under one roof.