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

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...