PML-N MPA Exposes Healthcare Shortcomings in Bahawalpur Hospitals, Challenges Punjab Government’s Good Governance Claims

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Malik Khalid Banth has criticised the state of healthcare facilities in Bahawalpur, challenging his own party’s government’s claims of good governance and alleging serious deficiencies in public hospitals.

Speaking during a session of the Punjab Assembly, Banth said poor patients were struggling to obtain hospital beds, essential medicines and timely access to specialist doctors and medical professors.

He expressed concern over the lack of basic healthcare facilities and alleged administrative negligence, saying patients were being deprived of timely treatment despite the seriousness of their medical conditions.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by cardiac patients, the lawmaker said delays in essential procedures, including heart surgery, bypass operations and stent placement, could put patients’ lives at risk. He alleged that hospitals lacked adequate arrangements to deal with such serious medical conditions.

He also drew attention to the plight of patients suffering from kidney diseases, saying they were being forced to struggle to obtain appropriate treatment.

Patients Forced to Seek Political Recommendations

Banth said poor patients from his constituency frequently approached him for assistance in accessing medical care.

بہاولپور اسپتال میں نہ بیڈ ہیں، نہ ادویات ہیں، نہ پروفیسر ہیں، مریض کیلئے انتطامیہ سے سفارش کرنا پڑتی ہے، انتظامیہ بات نہیں سنتی، مریض مر جاتا ہے۔ MPA نواز لیگ ملک خالد بانٹھ ’گُڈ گورننس‘ کا کچا چٹھا کھولتے ہوئے https://t.co/XVEG0V10ap

— Ahmad Warraich (@ahmadwaraichh) October 28, 2026

He complained that he was compelled to contact the principal and the administration of Quaid-e-Azam Medical College personally to ensure that patients received timely treatment.

Addressing fellow lawmakers from Bahawalpur, he said they were also well aware of the difficult conditions confronting patients at local government hospitals.

Allegations Against Hospital Administration

The PML-N lawmaker levelled serious allegations against the hospital administration, claiming that the principal was unwilling to answer calls from elected representatives or listen to their concerns.

He said the situation was particularly distressing for poor and vulnerable patients who could not afford private healthcare and depended entirely on public hospitals.

According to Banth, administrative delays and the alleged failure to respond to urgent requests for medical assistance were contributing to situations in which patients could lose their lives without receiving timely treatment.

He urged the Punjab government to take immediate notice of the situation, improve healthcare arrangements in Bahawalpur’s public hospitals and hold the relevant administration accountable for any negligence.

His remarks in the provincial assembly highlighted concerns over the availability of essential medicines, hospital beds, specialist doctors and the quality of public healthcare services in the region.