MIRPURKHAS, Jan 24: The number of OPD patients in government hospitals including the Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas has decreased due to non-availability of medicines since the last six months.

It was learnt that there was an acute shortage of medicines in government-run hospitals as the district administration had failed to purchase medicines despite having approved funds.

Sources said that the district purchase committee had approved the quotations for medicines, but the district Nazim office did not approve it due to high rates as compared to the market rates.

The district Nazim, Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah Jilani, took note of the situation and asked some officers to work out a proposal to ensure the purchase of medicines at reasonable prices.

Sources disclosed that Rs800,000 had been provided to the Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas from Zakat funds to provide medicines to deserving patients free of cost, but they were unable to avail the opportunity because the funds were misused.

At present, the patients were suffering as they were not getting medicines at government hospitals.

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