ISLAMABAD: Unhygienic conditions, overcrowding, poor security, mushroom growth of kiosks and the impolite behaviour of staff, coupled with the lack of beds in Polyclinic Hospital, are a constant source of irritation for patients and visitors alike.
Federal Government Service Hospital, commonly known as Polyclinic, is one of the oldest hospitals of the federal capital. However, the lack of basic facilities in the hospital had been causing immense problems for the patients, who could be seen standing in long and narrow queues, in and outside the hospital, for hours at an end.
The hospital was built only to meet the needs of government employees residing in the federal capital. Presently, around 7,000 to 8,000 visitors were coming to the hospital on a daily basis, but no extra arrangements have been made to meet the growing needs of patients due to which they had to pass through an ordeal every day.
Successive governments have repeatedly claimed that the hospital would be extended, but the plan has yet to be executed despite acquiring the possession of Argentina Park, which speaks volumes regarding the government’s apathy towards the health sector.
During a visit to the facility, it was observed that long queues of patients, including men and women, could be seen at the outpatient department (OPD) throughout the day.
Besides, a huge number of people were seen standing in front of the hospital pharmacy to get medicines, but the staffers were busy chit-chatting with each other after locking the windows and doors to the facility.
“I was asked to come at 2:30 pm to get medicine, however, I have been waiting in the long queue since morning, but no one has provided me with medicines yet,” Javed Akram, a 70-year- old patient told Pakistan Today.
He lamented that the staffers did not bother themselves with the miseries and sufferings of the poor patients, who were unnecessarily made to wait in long queues for hours, without any understandable reason.
Saima Bibi, who could not stand in the queue due to severe headache, narrated her ordeal by saying that though they were poor, it still did not make them citizens of another country, other than Pakistan. “We should be given respect as citizens of this country and provided with help when the situation demands it,” she added.
She demanded that the government should take action against the doctors and other staffers who had adopted a non-serious and lackadaisical attitude towards their duties.
During a visit to the emergency ward, the situation was observed to be even more pathetic there, as patients were seen lying on stretchers because a single bed was occupied by almost two patients at all times.
The patients and visitors also complained about the rude behavior of the staffers and the poor hygienic condition present inside the emergency ward, as the bed sheets had blood stains on it while dustbins were without any cover. To make matters worse, the bathrooms were also left in a filthy state and not cleaned regularly.
The situation at gynecology department was not different from the emergency department, as patients were denied admission due to very limited bed space.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, hospital sources said that the polyclinic was facing countless problems because the government refused to pay any attention to the oldest hospital of the capital.
They said that it was a matter of concern for hospital staff and visitors that there were no security arrangements in place for the facility, even though it was located in the Red Zone, considered the heart of the federal capital.
The long-abandoned Argentina Park and the mushroom growth of kiosks around the hospital were not only a security threat for the hospitalised people and the staffers, but for the dwellers as well, as the area was mostly occupied by drug addicts and loafers.
The sources further said that the hospital had its own private security but they were ill-equipped and not trained, due to which people could be seen visiting the facility unchecked at all odd hours. They said that the government should initiate work on the long-delayed extension of the hospital, which could also help the government score well in the next general elections.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Poly Clinic Hospital spokesman Dr Sharif Astori said that the hospital was facing serious security issues due to the mushroom growth of kiosks around the facility, and the existence of an abandoned park in the vicinity. Proper security arrangements should be made at the earliest at the hospital to stop any untoward incident from happening, he added.
The spokesman said that a number of letters were written to the Islamabad Capital Territory and Capital Development Authority administrations regarding poor security measures at the hospital, while adding that no action had been taken in this regard by the authorities concerned.
About the massive rush of patients seen at the facility, Dr Astori said that the hospital was specifically build for federal employees but now people from the twin cities were also visiting the hospital due to which even the employees could not get proper treatment.
He further said, “Due to massive increase in population of the federal capital, there is a need for extension of the hospital and construction of new hospitals in the city. But since nothing has been done in this regard, the patients are suffering due to unavailability of facilities at the hospital.”
Dr Astori also said that the hospital staff was trying its level best to provide healthcare facilities to patients, irrespective of the limited resources held by the hospital.
