QUETTA:More than 15 operation theaters of the Sandeman Provincial Hospital are non-functional owing to non-payment of liabilities to a private company running them.
As a result surgeries on more than 100 patients could not be carried out, and relatives of patients blocked Brewry Road against the closures of operation theaters.
Payments to the contractor had not been made on time due to which operation theaters were closed, said Dr Kaleemullah, President, Pakistan Medical Association.
He said doctors are not to be blamed as the Government of Balochistan has not released fund for payment outstanding liabilities of 5 months to the contractor.
All the operation theaters of the hospital are being run by a private company, said Dr Faheem Afridi, Medical Superintendent, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, adding that the government has not paid liabilities amounting to Rs 3.6 Crores to the contractor; therefore, 70 employees of the company working in hospital could not draw their monthly salaries and the company stopped work in the hospital.
However, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has asked Chairman, Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT) to conduct investigation in the matter.