Information Commissioners of Sindh Information Commission(SIC) Muhammad Saleem Khan and Noor Muhammad Dayo under Sindh Right to Information and Transparency Act 2016 visited Sindh Government Services Hospital on Thursday.
Information Commissioners expressed displeasure over non functioning of website of the hospital and directed the Medical Superintendent to make it functional as soon as possible with proactive disclosures on it as required under section 6 of the said Act.
They inspected record room, budget, details of doctors, paramedical staff, medicine store and other matters of the hospital. They visited various wards and sections of the hospital including medical reimbursement section and directed to ensure preservation of the record year wise. Information Commissioners also asked patients available in physiotherapy and dental OPDs about the treatment facilities provided to them.
Saleem Khan on the occasion said that access to information was the basic right of every citizen of Pakistan and that right is also protected under section 19-A of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. “Under RTI Act all goverment entities are bound to disclose public interest information on their website as part of proactive disclosure,he added.
He further said that every government department and institution must appoint a designated officer of grade 16 or above as public information officer.
Mr Dayo said that non-disclosure of information or hiding such information,lack of good governance and transparency has penal consequences under section 15and 16 of the Act.”Change of designated officer should promptly be reported to the Commission for the sake of updating of record”,he directed. They warned that non compliance of directives of Sindh Information Commission is also punishable under the Act.
Medical Superintendent of the hospital pledged to fully comply with the directives of SIC.He assured that the website of the hospital will be activated within a month and a designated officer would also be appointed.