August 12, 2002	Monday	Jamadi-us-Saani 2, 1423

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HARIPUR, Aug 11: The Health Department has decided to wind up 14 basic health units and dispensaries within a radius of 10km of the DHQ hospital Haripur, sources told Dawn.

The office of the EDO (Health) reportedly has not approved the budget for some of these health outlets. There were also reports of putting the decision on the back-burner by the provincial health secretary owing to impending agitation by the people.

However, there was no confirmation of the report from the office of the EDO (health) Haripur, as the EDO could not be contacted despite various attempts.

The EDO (health) had earlier downgraded the Civil Hospital Khalabat Township to the status of civil dispensary besides abolishing the posts of doctors from some of the BHUs last year despite strong opposition from the area people.

According to figures provided by an official source about the number of health outlets in the district, there are over 40 BHUs, four civil hospitals, a DHQ hospital, five civil dispensaries and about six mother and baby care centres in Haripur.

However, the area people had been complaining about the indifferent attitude of the health authorities towards these units and lack of medicines and facilities.

The EDO (Health) Haripur after assuming the charge, proposed certain steps including winding up all the 14 BHUs and civil dispensaries situated within 10km radius of the under-construction DHQ hospital Haripur with a view to revamping theses entities and ensuring medical facilities to a majority of people, sources said.

Under the plan, the staff of these outlets which was over 100 in number, would be adjusted in the DHQ hospital and the three civil hospitals which were selected for the status of D-type hospitals with increased staff and 24-hour service.

Civil Hospital Rehana, Ghazi and Rural Health Centre Sirikot were the health facilities, which were being upgraded to D-type hospital, sources said.

The sources said the health entities which were being abolished included BHU Dhenda, Meelan, Shah Mohammad, Sera-i-Saleh, Kangra Colony, Khoee Nara, Jati Pind, Sikandarpur, Mankraye, Panian and civil dispensaries of Central Jail, Pind Muneem and one of the two in the Khalabat Township.