Despite clearing the last roadblock to the expansion of Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSC), popularly known as Polyclinic Hospital, of getting possession of the land required for construction of hospital complex, the plan has not moved an inch hitherto.
Keeping in view the unprecedented increase in patients’ load, the then government conceived the plan to extend the facility in 2008 using Argentina Park land; however the inordinate delay in the plan speaks volume of the incumbent government towards health sector.
The expansion project of erecting a new five-storey state-of-the-art building was initiated in 2010 but it is still in doldrums even though the civic agency formally allotted the land of Argentina Park to the hospital long ago.
A senior official in Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) told Pakistan Today that the government constituted a committee consisting officials from CADD Ministry, CDA, polyclinic and Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare design for the expansion and re-construction of the hospital.
However, the committee after completing the task and submitted the proposed design, which was rejected on architectural ground, he added.
He said that later the polyclinic was asked to approach directly to the contractor and formalise the design for expansion of the project.
The hospital established in 1966 was originally used to cater to government servants but with the passage of time it started providing healthcare facilities to people other than government servants, raising patients’ load on the hospital that has now reached up to 7,000 to 8,000 patients per day.
CADD State Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced a year ago that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would inaugurate the extension project soon, which he said would require around Rs 1.5 billion that would be completed over a period of five years.
According to the proposal, a new 5-storey building (with 2 basements and mezzanine) consisting of four-block structure will be constructed in phases. The whole outdoor patient and emergency departments will be shifted in the new block in Argentine Park and a new building will also replace the current hospital building.
The new 1,100 beds (minimum) hospital will have latest diagnostic facilities with fully computerised investigation system, full range of critical care services, provision of full spectrum of specialised tertiary care, separate inflow of clinical departments with integration, hospital management information system, helipad supported 24/7 emergency services, and disabled and senior citizens’ friendly design.
All staff/hospital vehicles and support services will be arranged in the basement while the visitor parking will be within the boundary walls. Fire safety and earthquake proofing, renewable energy options and wireless networking will also be incorporated.
Another official, who was part of the committee, told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity that the government was not serious to expend hospital so it was useless to talk about the issue.
He said that the government was “not playing a pro-active role” in implementing a project of public health, as it was more interested in projects such as metro buses and motorways.
A doctor at Poly Clinic said that they were struggling to manage the ever-increasing patients’ load, as they have left with no option but to send back serious patients due to non-availability of beds.
He said that the government should also provide doctors and other staffers in other hospitals in the rural areas of the federal capital to ease the burden on the facility, where buildings were established but remained redundant.
“Rapid population growth in the capital has made it impossible to cater to all the patients visiting Poly Clinic,” he added. He opined that expansion needed to be carried out sooner rather than later.
When contacted, Poly Clinic spokesperson Dr Imtaiz said that hospital administration has completed the assigned task and no the matter was pending with Ministry of Planning.
He hoped that the plan would be implemented, as the hospital has already got the possession of the land required for the extension though he accepted the process of implementation of the plan was going on snail pace.
CADD State Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry could not be reached for his comments in this regard.
