Editorial:
In Balochistan’s government-run hospitals, expensive equipment can always be found non-functional. In the province’s largest government-run hospital, the Bolan Medical Complex Hospital (BMCH), the angiography and angioplasty machines are out of order for the last two and half years.
Also Read: Angiography machine out of order in BMC
This is nothing new in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. Now patients and their attendants are mentally prepared for this. Expensive machines including CT-Scan, MRI, angiography, etc can always be found out of order in BMCH and civil hospitals. District headquarters hospitals, basic health units, and rural health centers paint a bleak picture when it comes to health facilities and services.
This daily’s report about out of order machines fell on deaf ears
This daily recently reported a news item regarding the non-functional angiography and angioplasty machines. Nevertheless, the provincial high-ups including the Chief Secretary, Secretary of Health, and other concerned officials preferred not to take notice. The report rather fell on deaf ears.
It is crystal clear that deserving and poor patients and their attendants are the worst sufferers of the non-functional expensive machines. The doctors and the para-medics are the beneficiaries of this.
Patients the worst sufferers of out order machines
If the machines are out of order, the patients have no option other than to conduct the tests and procedures in private hospitals and clinics. Balochistan Health Minister, Syed Ehsan Shah told this daily that there are reports that doctors and paramedics deliberately make these expensive machines out of order. Senior doctors rejected the minister’s claim and held the latter responsible for all the mess in the health department.
In this blame game between doctors and the minister, the common man is the worst sufferer. The provincial government in general and the health department in particular should make the machines functional since it is their core responsibility.
