BAHAWALNAGAR: Bahawalnagar district is not only under-developed but also constantly neglected. Majority of its population -- about 2.8 million -- is beset with serious problems due to hollow promises made by politicians.

In the vital health sector, locals or at least a majority of them are worse off. Expensive private practitioners are beyond their reach. The only hope for the ailing is District Headquarters Hospital. But that too, apart from its building, has nothing to offer, not even a kind word. Things have never been commendable at the DHQ.

Currently, healthcare at the hospital is abysmal because of its overloaded emergency, shortage of doctors and specialists and, more importantly, ‘rampant corruption’ in the local health department.

Since the DHQ’s emergency department could not cater to the needs of patients of the district, establishment of a 50-bed new block had been demanded about five years ago.

The chief minister approved it and laid the foundation stone four and a half years ago. The project had been estimated to cost Rs200 million.

As per plans, the new block would have extra facilities of CT scan, a modern pathology lab, a blood bank, ultrasound machine and an additional 500 MA X-ray unit.

This would be in addition to the medical, surgical, ICU, CCU and paediatric ward with two operation theatres. But there is no definite time period for its construction to start and it becoming operational. Locals have been waiting for years.

Shahzad Ahmad, a local human rights activist, said: “Condition of healthcare in Bahawalnagar is deplorable. A bit serious patient was referred to teaching institutions of Bahawalpur, Multan and Lahore, sometimes only to shift responsibility and sometimes due to incapability of local doctors who cannot cope with the situation. Due to this patients suffer a lot and sometimes lost their lives while travelling.”

Khalid Abbas, a social worker, said there was a dire need to make the new emergency building operational at the earliest, as health services delivered at the old one lacked resources.

However, a senior doctor of Bahawalnagar DHQ said, on the condition of anonymity, there was no trained human resource available for the new emergency block due to which it could not be started early. However, if the administration managed to make it operational soon it could not cater to the ailing due to untrained personnel.

While presenting a rosy picture of healthcare, Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Habibur Rehman said: “The emergency block is about to be completed and will start at the earliest. A hot and cool system will be installed soon, after which the building will be handed over to health authorities.

All equipment has already been purchased. As far as trained human resource is concerned, 30 doctors have been inducted after the recommendation of PPSC, while specialist doctors will also join the DHQ soon.”

However, a source said the project had been halted due to paucity of funds.