RECENTLY I visited the Bacha Khan Medical Complex in Mardan where the doctor advised my father to undergo an operation for his throat problem which has made his voice hoarse. I was to get a date finalised for the operation but the clerk concerned fixed it for next March 27. How can a patient wait for so long with a serious problem.

When I inquired further about the date, the clerk said the growing number of patients and fewer doctors were the reason. Even emergency cases are not done on time because of the rush. Every day a dozen operations are done that include one or two patients suffering from thyroid. A thyroid patient takes two to three hours. There are only four surgeons in the ENT department who cannot look after the patients on time.

The provincial government should look into the matter. Providing health facilities is a primary duty of the government. I wonder how such a situation can escape the attention of a popularly-elected government.

Qaim Ali Shah

Swabi

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017