An act of block-headed irresponsibility

We are outraged and demur at the reason being cited by the Power Development Board (PDB) for such an abrupt power cut at a major hospital in the country. Apparently, the PDB snapped the line as the CMCH authority had failed to pay the arrear electricity bills despite, what they claimed, repeated reminders for paying up. But the cruel irony is that the outstanding bills were for four months only and to top it all there was an understanding between the health ministry and the PDB not to disconnect the electricity lines since payment had been cleared up to December, 2004.

What an act of irresponsibility that was? This is nothing short of involuntary manslaughter at the altar of thick-headed ego-play by PDB officials.

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But irrespective of whether the bills were paid or not on time, or whether electricity was snapped without notice, there should have been a fall-back system to tackle any contingency in the hospital. Why does not the hospital have adequate generator facility to cope with any emergency?

The hospital authority reportedly could not pay the electricity bills in time since there was not enough budget for it. How ridiculous it is! Are they implying that we do not have the money even for the most essential utility service in a hospital?

After an incident like this, we recommend action against those responsible for the ordeal at CMCH and make a strong plea for adequate budgetary allocation for essential services in all the public hospitals of the country.