PESHAWAR, May 8: As many consultants joining the institution-based practice (IBP) at public sector hospitals, many irregularities were coming to fore with each passing day, doctors and health workers told Dawn.

An orthopaedic surgeon at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, had appointed his own ward orderly in the IBP. Nevertheless, all the other consultants had been provided the ward orderlies from their respective hospitals. The same ward orderly had also worked with the same orthopaedists at his private clinic before the government imposed a ban on the private practice of the consultants on March 1, outside state-run hospitals.

The appointment of the WO, who also happened to be a government employee, used to send patients to a private X-rays centre for investigation despite the fact the same facilities were available at the KTH. The complaint against this practice had already been lodged with the administration of the hospital but no action was taken.

“We know that some irregularities are taking place in the IBP but we are unable at this point to take action against the consultant. Because, we have only one orthopaedic surgeon and if he leaves the IBP, we would be left high and dry,” an official at the KTH said.

Encouraged by the orthopaedic surgeon, many of the consultants had asked the administration of their respective hospitals to provide them with the WOs who had been working at their private clinics before the ban. The demand had obviously been made by the consultants to pave the way for their pecuniary gains. As there were also confirmed reports that patients were being entertained by the consultants directly which enabled them to charge full consultation fee of Rs300 from them. As per IBP rules, the consultants get 70 per cent of the amount collected from the patients.

Many surgeons informed that patients were being operated upon without necessary required investigation before operations. For instance, the patients who were admitted to hospitals for operation were being advised HCV and HIV tests to check if the patients was suffering from Aids or Hepatitis in order to save other patients from being infected.

All the patients coming to hospitals in morning shifts, were being subjected to series of investigations like X-ray chest, urine and blood examinations but the patients coming through IBP were being operated upon without these investigations.

“This practice can land many patients in hot waters. Many normal patients can contract infections due to the usage of instruments which are used for the patients at the operation theatres,” said a surgeon of the Lady Reading Hospital. According to him, these investigations were of paramount importance for all patients because many a times, the surgeons used these instruments for other patients which could infect them.

Registration of patients for IBP took painfully long time and the patients or their relatives had to wait for longer periods.