By Maham Tanveer

CRITICAL BUT MEDICAL!

Man dares to face circumstances when life grants him with a breath of hope and he talks about revolution when every aspect squanders - either individual life's or country's. Deja Vu is the condition when we feel that we have seen this "something" before too. I was vigorously attacked by deja vu when we entered KU clinic. Nothing was different - the same government block! And after survey, my faith became more strong that Pakistani society cannot grow as long as money dominates life.

THE CRUST - Information Provided By Clinic Staff :-

The clinic was established in 1960s near Mahmud Hassan Library. Later it was shifted beside 3rd World Center. Now a new clinic is being formed near admin block which is hopefully going to be owned by clinic itself and not some "Sultan Rahi" type department.

The clinic staff comprises 40 people including 1 female attendant Dr. Yasmin, 1 male Dr. Nadeem-uz-Zaman (MO) and Dr. Syed Abid Hassan. KU students are treated at university cards. Annual files are made for KU staff members at which they are provided visiting slip. OPD fee is very less. Basic medicines are provided from clinic, others are required to be bought. Jinnah Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital etc are at the panel. Emergency, laboratory and medical store are also present.

Senior compounder Muhammad Muslim told that despite the fund providence issue, sufficient supplements are there. Almost 50 patients visit daily from 8 am to 3 pm. Clinic is open 24 hours with every time doctors availability. Medicines are provided at 50% lesser rates. Nearest department from accident spot informs clinic so that they may provide instant treatment. 2 ambulances are always available.

THE CORE - Observations:-

* 2 sweepers have been appointed who perform their duties efficiently.

* There was no one in clinic to provide us with some information. Someone had to go to submit children's fee, someone's mouth was busy in chewing betel-leaf, someone had to go in a meeting, someone said to come after 3 and someone avoided us "aween". Along with they were saying "atey rehtey hain koi na koi kabhi documentry banane kabhi article likhne". Finally they gave consent that we can walk around clinic which really made us to whirl.

* We met 17 members out of 40 from morning staff. A tongue slipper told that many come for 65 days out of 365.

*A patient Sadia who was waiting for doctor for 5 hours told that doctor's treatment with patients is very satisfactory but doctors are not punctual, we have to wait a lot.

* The clinic with 24 hour doctors' availability actually opens at 8 am whereas doctors normally come after 10 and morning shift ends at 3 pm. 4 to 5 people stay after 2.3 hours of evening shift. Doctor is called when patient comes.

* Necessary machines and chemicals are absent from laboratory. X-ray machine was broken some 15 years back in a riot and still not provided.

* When asked that what basic treatment is provided like in case of bullet etc in university crisis, "the possible treatment" paradigm made my companion to burst out.

* Space for 3 years stolen generator is still to be filled.

*Improvement since establishment remained unanswered in 2 hours survey.

- hain kawakib kuch, nazar atey hain kuch

dete hain dhokaa, yeh baazigar khula

Apart of all this, staring angry nurse at patients when they were giving comments, doctors avoiding us, staff making us wretch, closed and locked doors and some other things too increased our investigative curiosity. But if you compare clinic with department offices, or museum , or sports ground etc, you will find clinic much better.