Tolo T.V. (Translated by RAWA), January 14, 2009

Residents Complain of Public Helath Ministry in Kabul

Where will another helpless poor person find that much money? When you are the Minister of Public Health where are the medicines?

The relatives of patients admitted in the Jamhooriat Hospital complain about the lack of hygienic equipments, necessary medicines and carelessness of the people in charge in the Ministry of Public Health. They say they even have to buy the important equipments of surgery from the bazaar. The head of the surgery department of the Jamhooriat Hospital confirmed the statements and said they have many problems and no steps have been taken by the Ministry of Public Health to solve the matters.

Dr. Daud Nazari, head of surgical in Jamhooriat Hospital, after arguing with Amin Fatimi said angrily: "Actually I don’t know how he dares to state in front of the media that we have provided everything to the hospital through the ministry, our patients have no difficulties."

The relatives of patients complain about the lack of hygienic facilities. Moreover, a number of countrymen have complained about the lack of attention of the Ministry of Public Health and say they face difficulties in the provincial hospitals.

An old man said, “Mr. Minister says we give them medicines. Unfortunately not even a single medical item has been given to a single patient.”

Another poor man exclaimed, “We borrowed 12,000 rupees and came here. Where will another helpless poor person find that much money? When you are the Minister of Public Health where are the medicines?

A hospital worker said, “We buy all items, from the thread with which we sew the cuts to the substance with which the cut is washed.”

Another man similarly agreed that all medicines are bought and someone else said, “What does a glove cost? We are asked to even buy gloves from the market.”

The other day, the head of the surgery department of the Jamhooriat Hospital, Daud Nazari, wanted to talk about the problems of the hospital with the Minister of Public Health but he ended up arguing with him. He was pushed out of the room. “No work has been done here,” the fuming doctor cried. “Mr. Minister comes here…Actually I don’t know how he dares to state in front of the media that we have provided everything to the hospital through the ministry, our patients have no difficulties,” he added sarcastically.

Najib Ahsan, the deputy of the Jamhooriat Hospital said, “The amount of medicines in the hospital is not sufficient for the number of patients.”

But the Minister of Public Health says they have supplied everything needed for the emergency service of the hospital.

Amin Fatimy, the Minster of Public Health, said, “They themselves didn’t take their winter supplies which they were supposed to take during the Muharram holidays (religious holidays). But my report is that they took their supplies, which is for all diseases for the three months of the winter, at 7 o’clock in the morning.”

Before this, the residents of Kabul have complained about the disorganization of some hospitals.

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