TAXILA, May 14: The continued absence of the lady medical officer and gynaecologist at the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) hospital, Taxila, for the last five months has created massive problems for the local patients.

The THQ hospital, which is the only public health facility in Taxila and Wah, caters to the health care needs of over 50,000 local population.

Sources said due to the absence of any woman medical officer, the maternity department was being run by nurses and midwives.

In case of some complication during the delivery, the patient is rushed to nearby military hospitals risking the life of both the mother and the child.

Similarly, due to the absence of LMO the medico legal cases including torture, rape and autopsy were referred to the DHQ hospital Rawalpindi causing more problems to the victims.

The situation becomes complex when woman patients brought here from rural areas have no money to bear the travel expenses for Rawalpindi.

Social circles said situation at the grass-roots level belied the achievements of Punjab government’s much publicised Health Sector Reforms Programme (HSRP).

They said on the one hand the Punjab government in collaboration with international health agencies had launched a safe motherhood initiative, while on the other hospitals in rural areas were working without adequate staff and facilities.

The health department also did not fulfil its commitments and rather ignored priorities set to cater to the needs of the rapidly growing population.

A health official told this reporter that the lady medical officer posted at the THQ hospital was absent from duty due to personal reasons, while the gynaecologist was on maternity leave.

Taxila Tehsil Nazim Sadeeq Khan, when contacted, said the local government was aware of the shortage of female medical staff in hospitals and the matter had also been brought to the notice of the district government. But there is shortage of female doctors at all levels.