The Punjab government appears smug about the quality of its governance but the people of Muzaffargarh district feel quite differently about it. Here, for example, the health department is run by an EDO who enjoys a very cozy relationship with one of the most influential political representatives of the ruling party. He seems more interested in his private practice and in juggling district health budget than in protecting public interest. No wonder that he recently bought a plot of land costing millions on which he is now constructing plazas and clinics. And his gynaecologist wife posted at the DHQ hospital under his jurisdiction enjoys the liberty to redirect government hospital patients to her own clinic where her husband also works with her as womens ultrasound specialist. It is a well understood fact that a pregnant woman carries two lives, her own and that of her unborn child and thus deserves utmost care and attention for preservation of the two souls. Many women die in our country because they cannot afford private treatment and also our infant death rate is one of the highest in the world. If the facilities provided by the government for this purpose are hijacked by private interests then who will look after these poor people? The gynaecologist here receives about Rs. One lakh per month as salary to serve these poor people but instead of performing this sacred duty she has converted her home into an operation theatre where caesarean sections of redirected patients are performed after extorting huge amounts. This is totally against the health department rules which stipulate that a government doctor can only give private consultation at home and can neither admit a patient nor use any invasive procedure there. A government doctor is not allowed to covert his/her home into a full-fledged hospital or clinic. The Punjab government is requested to order measures to rectify this disturbing situation. Ghulam Fareed, Muzaffargarh, September 10.