KARACHI, June 10: Provincial Health Minister Ahsan Ahmed has directed all EDOs (Health) to ensure regular visits to taluka hospitals scattered across the province and see that patients are duly attended.

A Health Department press release issued here on Monday said the health minister visited taluka hospital, Sakrand, and took serious notice of absence of medical specialists and non-availability of prescribed drugs at the hospital’s medical store.

The minister was informed that these were the drugs suggested to needy patients who could procure the same through Zakat fund allocated to each hospital. However, the druggist concerned instead of delivering the prescribed medicines was found compelling patients to receive some other.

The taluka hospital, Sakrand, was also facing a shortage of X-ray films adding to the miseries of people. Fault was also found to have developed in other examination accessories.

The minister asked director-general Health and EDO Health, Nawabshah, to submit a report regarding absence of qualified paediatrician, gynaecologist and anaesthetist at the hospital besides other administrative flaws at the institution.

The minister assured people that their complaints would be removed without any delay.

The minister during his visit to medico-legal section of the hospital directed the hospital in-charge to assign all doctors as medico-legal officer on rotational basis and also to ensure that all applicants be provided duly stamped and signed medico-legal reports within 24 hours.—APP