A report based on monitoring of 139 dispensaries in 89 districts across Pakistan in June 2013
ISLAMABAD, 18th September 2013: Ninety seven dispensaries out of the monitored 139 did not receive any oversight visit by either a government official or elected representative during March-May 2013 quarter. Informed and regular oversight is important for efficient working of institutions and therefore should be ensured by the concerned authorities says a Free and Fair Election (FAFEN) report released on Wednesday.
FAFEN governance monitors who visited 139 dispensaries in 89 districts reported only 47 oversight visits to 42 dispensaries. Â Most of these visits were made by EDO/health (22 visits) while another 22 were by government officials and three by elected representatives.
Among regions, dispensaries in Punjab received the highest number of visits, 30, followed by KP (8), Sindh (6) and Balochistan (3).
Monitoring also revealed a low occupancy rate of the sanctioned positions of doctors as out of 112 posts 77 were filled- an occupancy rate of 69%. However, the rate was better for other positions; paramedical staff (male (98%) and, female (81%)) and support staff (peons (91%) and sanitary workers (80%)).
In-house pharmacies of 134 dispensaries had medicines and were providing the prescribed ones free of cost. Whereas around three-fifths of the monitored dispensaries were operating without sterilizers and two-fifths did not have syringe cutters.
As for some general facilities, 92 dispensaries were housed in proper buildings and 95 had boundary walls. Electricity connections were available in 112 dispensaries.
Eighty four health facilities had arrangement for clean drinking water, 81 had washrooms (with running water) and 106 had a proper place/shade for waiting patients.
