Zubai Qureshi
Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi while taking notice of of complaints regarding absence of medicines for the senior citizens at the Federal Government Services Hospital (Polyclinic) Hospital directed the management to issue medicines for one month to the senior citizens and for 15 days to less than 60 years of age so that they could be spared from visiting hospital time and again in the month of Ramazan.
He also directed putting in place the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on good hygienic standards for kitchen maintenance, effective biometric system for hospital employees’ attendance, and verification of medical bills within three weeks.
The Federal Ombudsman also directed the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance to provide necessary funds and facilities to the hospital along with provision of hiring facilities to doctors and resolution of their service issues on priority basis.
The Ombudsman also recommended giving the possession of attached government quarters to Polyclinic management for hospital purposes so that its service providing capacity could be enhanced.
The hospital management had complained against behaviour and involvement in corrupt practices of police officials appointed for security duties in the hospital.
To this the Ombudsman issued a letter to the I.G. Islamabad Police with the direction to change security staff on fortnightly basis with close supervision.
The Ombudsman lauded the efforts of the management of the Polyclinic on resolving the immediate issues indicated by the inspection team.
It may be mentioned that the FO had constituted a team of senior officers comprising Mr. Ahmed Farooq, Senior Advisor and Mr. Pervez Haleem, Consultant to visit Polyclinic hospital and submit a report.
The committee had submitted its report and after visiting Polyclinic, listening to the complaints of patients, witnessing the entire hospital held a meeting with the management of the hospital.
The team observed and noted a number of complaints of patients including unusual number of outdoor patients, late arrival of doctors, delay in timely issuance of medicines to patients, less issuance of medicines to patients against prescribed medicines/issuance of alternative medicines, delay in processing of reimbursement bills, great difficulties in getting laboratory reports etc.
The team had also inspected the Emergency, OPD, Laboratories, stores and kitchen and found unsatisfactory conditions. They also listened to the problems of the management. The Executive Director, Polyclinic Dr. Shahid Hanif along with a team of doctors briefed the team about their difficulties in properly handling the patients of age so that they could be spared from visiting hospital time and again.
