KARACHI, Oct 23: Taking notice of disarrayed condition of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital managed under the city government, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad called for working out a line of action in a fortnight and said that the same be implemented to revamp and make the hospital functional in three to six months.

He paid a visit to the hospital on Saturday night and had an appraisal about its prevailing conditions.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, he issued directive for setting up a committee, headed by the chief secretary, assigned with working out a comprehensive strategy to make the hospital functional.

The committee members included provincial secretaries for health, finance and local government and DCO Karachi.

The governor ordered that all steps should be taken and resources be employed to improve the hospital’s condition. He made it clear that there was no shortage of funds. “The real thing is their prudent utilization and make the medical facilities available to people,” he added.

He expressed the determination that this hospital would be brought into a position far better than its past condition within the next six months.

Recalling that Abbasi Shaheed Hospital used to have very good facilities and people from Karachi as well as other parts of the province used to come here for treatment, the governor said that the hospital suffered greatly because of negligence and carelessness. He said that he himself had done house job here and the staff here was quite capable and hard working.

Stressing on practical steps for restoring the confidence of patients, he called for ensuring the attendance of doctors and other staff.

When pointed out that doctors were on long leave and did not come to duty, the governor said they should be issued last notice and be spared if they did not turn up.

Ishratul Ibad said the causes responsible for ruination did need ascertainment, but without getting implicated into the same, a speedy headway should be made and ailing humanity should be benefited with the available infrastructure facilities.

He warned that action would be taken against those found responsible for creating problems and identified during the course of implementation to make the hospital functional.

Addressing the doctors and other staff on the occasion, the governor said the hospital management would be a total failure if the patients did not come to the hospital despite having a budget of Rs440 million, infrastructure and the staff. He said until everybody would not realize his responsibilities, the situation would not change.

Earlier, DCO Fazlur Rehman and Medical Superintendent briefed the governor about the working of hospital.

Talking to a delegation of doctors doing house job, the governor directed the DCO for payment of their wages along with arrears.

On the occasion, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said it was a matter of great regret and pain that despite having all paraphernalia, best building and staff, the hospital failed to provide better medical and treatment facilities to people.

“Now one more opportunity is being provided and it is a notice for all to make facilities available to people for which each one will have to play his role,” he said and warned that still if anyone would not pay heed and continue with lethargic attitude, he would have to face disciplinary action.

QUAKE VICTIMS: The governor also visited two children, who were brought here from quake-hit areas for medical treatment.

He inquired from the doctors and parents of children about the medical treatment being provided and their health condition.

Ishratul Ibad also gave Rs10,000 each and bouquet to the children and assured of cooperation to their parents in this hour of trial.

The hospital staff informed the governor that six persons injured in the earthquake were brought to this hospital and four of them had been discharged.— APP