Work on seven different development projects, worth no less than Rs 176.5 million has come to an almost halt at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) since issuance of a letter by the Federal Health Ministry in July expecting donors to make their contribution only through a registered "Patient Welfare Society."
The very condition, which has emerged to be generally unacceptable for the NG0s in the backdrop of the fact that they hold little trust on official authorities regarding judicious application of their donations, has led to a scenario where construction at not less than seven different projects in departments as Oncology, Radiology, Gynae and Obstetric, Ophthalmology, Antenatal Ward, National Epilepsy Canter has been stopped in halfway - all at expense of poor patients and their well being.
It may not be out of context to mention that assistance extended by local philanthropists and NGOs are extremely essential for the sustainability of health care facilities in the public sector as resource constraints have restricted the national budgetary allocations in health sector to a mere ten paisas a person per day - feared to shrink further on face of high population growth rate.
It was not that they wanted to have their absolute say in all affairs of the project supported by them, one of the senior members of an NGO involved in the uplift of JPMC units said reminding that it were the doctors which through their performance managed to persuade many of the philanthropists to back renovation and refurbishment of government health care facilities.
"We ought to be provided adequate guarantees that our donations would be safeguarded and put to most judicious use", he said supporting the proposition that there could be some form of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlines private-public partnership.
Interestingly a MoU has been signed by one of the former JPMC Directors and Patient Aid Foundation under which 'the latter made tremendous contribution in providing good facilities at the centre.
However, owing to reluctance of concerned quarters to move forward with 'the proposal of MoUs between NGOs and the hospital as well as issuance of the said letter F.13-2/2004 - F&A/MF - I, dated July 10 many of patient welfare schemes have generally assumed a standstill position.
Some of the other projects gravely effected include the ambitious Rangoonwala Neurosurgery Centre (worth Rs 488 million), JPMC Auditorium, a donor project worth Rs 25 million and expected to provide a state of art facility -largely beneficial to postgraduate medical students and researchers.
Ironically no less than an amount of Rs 2.0 million of a total sum of Rs 4.0 million committed by one of the donor organisations for Emergency Operation Project initiated by a registered trust "Accident and Emergency Foundation" had to be returned as it remained unutilised in face of inability of NG0s and government authorities to arrive at an adequate settlement.