Student leader says AKHS looting poor people of Garam Chashma
CHITRAL, Aug 28: The vice-chairman of Ismaili Students Association lower Chitral and former president of Chitral Students Social Welfare Association based at Karachi, Sher Jahan Khan, here alleged that the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) was looting the poor people of Garam Chashma in the name of healthcare facilities. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he alleged the organization was also blackmailing the Ismaili community instead of providing them with medical facilities as envisioned by the Aga Khan Foundation. Flanked by other activists of the association, he said AKHS had done nothing for the relief of the poor people of the far-flung areas except receiving fees from them at exorbitant rate. “In the government run hospitals, the cost of OPD chit is only five rupees but it is as high as 300 rupees in the AKHS healthcare centres. All other facilities are charged in the same high proportion,” he said. “AKHS has virtually become a commercial organization whose all activities are meant to gather more and more amount of money,” he said. He that the organization had taken over the management of tehsil headquarters hospital Garam Chashma on a public private partnership basis but it miserably failed to deliver the required services as given in the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Mr. Khan said that the poor people of Garam Chashma and its surrounding villages had become weary of the new management of the hospital as they have to pay 300 times higher fee than before when it was run by the government. “I know a person who paid a high sum of 800 rupees in the hospital for extraction of his ailing tooth while in the past he had paid only ten rupees for a similar treatment,” he said. Mr. Khan further alleged that last year a consultant psychologist of the organization was shot dead in a clinic in Chitral inside the regional offices but the matter was hushed up because it happened due to the inefficiency of its top managers. He said that his association will approach the local court for registration of FIR against the top management of AKHS, including its general manager, as they were directly responsible for the incident. Giving a deadline of 15 days to the government, he demanded the provincial government annul the MoU singed with AKHS and register an FIR against the managers of the organization.–Zahiruddin]]>
According to Mr. Sher Jahan if AKHS’P does have improved facilities and expert doctors then why it does not make his buildings separately. Why it has engaged the govt. hospital. There are majority of people who cannot afford the fees charged by the currently run hospital so they have no option except moving towards Chitral.
It is ridiculous to compare the the both set up, no doubt AKHSP has improved the quality of health care in Chitral and is still doing well. It is also true that AKHSP has internationally standardized medicines, equipments and other facilities. No one is stopping AKHSP from making hospital or giving good health facilities for the people of Garam Chashma but there should be a choice to opt between the cheaper one and the expensive one.
His argument about the rates are logical as there are more than 50% population belongs to lower class (financially) that cannot afford the rates of AKHSP.
This is unfortunate that the media is giving space to the people who are just reacting without knowing the background of the process and blaming unnecessarily. My humble request to the media is to probe and get complete picture of both sides before publishing any news. We believe that Public Private Partnership of THQ Garammchashma is blessing for the locality when start its facilities after completion of retrofitting exercise, hopefully by the end of October or Mid of November of this year and provision of health services shall start from January 2015 if climate allow. This is important to understand that same facility will be handed over to the government again after years but fully equipped as MoU is signed mutually. So, the person is completely unaware of the process and philosophy of the intervention.
To raise voice against social injustice is constructive but the alleged issue must be justifiable as the ACTIVIST has used the term “Health Care Facilities” – it really does not suit with the reformable institutions operated by Government and AKHS’P has no comparison, AND yes the treatment cost is much higher than others Hospitals BECAUSE the cost and the quality services incurred and rendered by AKHS’P against per patient ranked higher and excellent at same proportion. AKHS’P as non profit organization has a policy to ensure quality health services at BEST POSSIBLE minimum cost.
Mr.Jahan,Voicing on social evils is good depending on your determination.Saying institutions is bad is not wise.People may wrong but institutions are not.Institution are made for the betterment of the peoples.Everyone is aware the role played by AKHS against some major diseases.
Raise voices but in a good manner I hope U dn’t mind.
Firstly It will be totally injustice to compare AKHS,P facilites with Govt facilities. Secondly without permission of any organization their logo is being used is a question to be responded.