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Capital Hospital is facing a deepening administrative and financial crisis that has significantly affected the provision of healthcare services, leaving thousands of CDA employees and other patients without access to basic medical facilities, medicines, and essential equipment. The situation has deteriorated largely due to the prolonged non-payment of dues to contractors responsible for supplying medicines, surgical items, laboratory materials, and machinery, resulting in serious disruptions in the supply chain.

According to available information, outstanding payments to contractors have exceeded Rs 585 million, with an additional Rs 300 million reportedly unpaid during the current financial year. These persistent delays have placed a heavy financial burden on suppliers, many of whom have either reduced or completely halted their deliveries.

As a consequence, patients are now facing acute shortages of routine and life-saving medicines. The hospital’s laboratory services are also under strain due to a lack of essential testing kits, while surgical equipment is reportedly almost unavailable. The dental department has ceased functioning, and the supply of medicines across various wards has been severely affected.

The crisis appears to have been exacerbated by administrative inefficiencies within the hospital’s management. Sources indicate that approximately Rs 240 million from the previous financial year’s budget remained unutilized and was subsequently returned, allegedly due to mismanagement and a selective approach in decision-making.

In contrast, funds amounting to Rs 350 million were released in March by former CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa and transferred to the hospital. Despite the availability of these funds, which could have been disbursed promptly through the DP sheet mechanism, the administration has failed to process payments even after several weeks.

The gravity of the situation became evident during a recent late-night visit by the newly appointed CDA Chairman, Sohail Ashraf to the hospital’s emergency department, where he expressed serious concern over the lack of adequate arrangements for patient care. During the visit, hospital officials appealed for immediate support from contractors to restore medicine supplies.

While some contractors responded on humanitarian grounds and resumed limited deliveries, they maintained that they were owed substantial amounts and could not continue supplies indefinitely without payments. They also indicated that manufacturing companies had suspended further dispatches due to outstanding dues, further compounding the crisis.

Adding to the concerns, payments for several contractors dating back to 2023 remain pending, intensifying financial strain and uncertainty. There are also claims that while older dues remain unsettled, some payments for more recent years, including 2025 and 2026, have been processed, raising questions about transparency and prioritization within the system.

With the new leadership in place, there is growing expectation that urgent steps will be taken to address the hospital’s deteriorating condition. Timely clearance of contractor dues is seen as critical to restoring the supply of medicines and essential equipment. At the same time, accountability for administrative lapses is likely to be a key focus, with the aim of ensuring that healthcare services for CDA employees and their families are restored to an acceptable standard.