RAHIM YAR KHAN, Aug 25: The recently-established children and gynaecology wards at the Khanpur Tehsil Headquarters Hospital have been wound up within a week. Punjab Baitul Maal Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ijaz Shafi had inaugurated these wards on Aug 14.

According to the hospital administration, the wards have to be closed because no specialist doctor could be made available. Interviews for different vacancies of doctors were held on June 20, 2006 but no doctor has been appointed so far.

It is learnt that administration has not received an NOC for creating new vacancies from the provincial health secretary office for the last two months.

Women and children belonging to Khanewal and adjoining areas have been facing a great deal of inconvenience as they are being referred to other health facilities, including the Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan.