Despite repeated warnings by Emergency and Disaster Management Wing (E&DM) of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), the administration of Federal Government PolyClinic (FGPC) has yet to take proper safety measures in the hospital where the situation is quite chaotic.
The visitors as well the staffers of the hospital voiced serious concerns over the lack of a proper emergency exit in the facility.
They said that the hospital did not have an emergency plan in case of fire eruption or earthquake when the people have to rush outside the building to save their lives. There is no effective fire-fighting mechanism put in place in the hospital as well.
The E&DM wing of MCI directed the hospital admin to improve arrangements to cope with any kind of emergency situation.
In April, a team of the E&DM wing, after reviewing the arrangements in the Polyclinic Hospital, sent its report with a letter to the administration of the Polyclinic Hospital.
The wing directed the administration to make proper arrangements within a month for safe exit of the people in any kind of emergency in the building.
They also warned that if the administration of the Polyclinic Hospital failed to make arrangements in the stipulated time period then it would have to pay a fine worth Rs 500,000.
The report prepared by the E&DM pointed out that collection of chemicals like ethanol and methanol within the premises is dangerous as there is no effective fire-fighting mechanism in the hospital.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Additional Director Emergency and Disaster Management MCI Imad-ud-Din said that the situation in the hospital is quite alarming and the smallest incident could lead to a disaster.
He said that the hospital management has not bothered to comply with the safety measures despite their repeated requests of MCI.
Amad said, “The hospital administer is little bothered to comply with the repeated warnings and is paying no heed in this regard,” adding that no acknowledgement was made of their letter. If the issue persists a challan might be issued.
A senior doctor at the hospital wishing anonymity told that the hospital is facing multiple issues which the administration is failing to address. He said that patients are facing acute problems due to lack of waiting rooms, as the corridors of the hospital are jam-packed. Besides, he said the hospital is facing severe security threats as strangers could be seen sitting 24/7 in the Argentine Park and at the illegal kiosks and shops set up around the hospital.
He said that keeping in view the prevailing security situation, the authority responsible should take some serious notice of the issue, as the life of about 9,000 people visiting the facility daily is at stake.
When this scribe approached Capital Development Authority Spokesperson Mazhar Hussain for his comments on the kiosks set up around the hospital, he said that the CDA launched an operation against the kiosks time and again.
However, when asked whether these kiosks are illegal, he began giving roundabout answers.