HYDERABAD, March 26: The district council, Hyderabad, has expressed concern over proposed closure of the local civil hospital’s pathology laboratory and its merger with the diagnostic and research laboratory (DRL).

Demanding an inquiry into the issue, the council said personal pecuniary interests were involved in the decision for which no permission had been sought from the health department of Sindh.

The members discussed prevailing situation of the hospital and criticised the administration for its failure to ensure sanitation, health facilities etc.

Labour councillor Rana Mehmood Ali Khan tabled a resolution in this connection which was adopted unanimously alongwith another similar resolution of Babu Ramzan Arain pertaining to the hospital’s poor working.

Mr Mehmood informed the house that there was difference in the tariff of the hospital’s pathology laboratory and the DRL. The laboratory was conducting 71 tests free of costs. The tariff of the DRL was much higher.

He claimed that the DRL was not providing any extraordinary services to patients and added that doctors had a big monetary share in it. He called an inquiry in this regard.

Azizullah Memon supported the resolution. Babu Ramzan claimed that X-ray machine was not working and patients have been forced to get x-ray from outside.

The issue of availability of substandard flour in the market was also discussed. Rana Mehmood moved a resolution in this regard, stating that 75 per cent rotten wheat was being provided in the market. It was suggested that a team of members should visit the food godown, take samples of wheat and flour and get its tested from a laboratory.