MURREE: Despite tall claims made by elected representatives and repeated demands by the local people, no considerable improvement has been made in the healthcare facilities in Murree.

There is only one Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Murree which was established in 1970s during the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Since then, no new hospital has been established in the resort town for the population of about six million. The THQ hospital is also facing a host of problems.

Projects to open new hospitals failed to materialise since 1970s

Out of the total 18 allocated posts of specialist doctors, 15 are vacant for many years. Radiology, laboratory, surgery and other departments are without consultants. Similarly, out of the total 30 sanctioned posts of nurses, 19 are vacant.

Unless proper residences are constructed for doctors, these posts cannot be filled, said Dr Faiza Kanwal, the medical superintendent of the hospital.

A 150-bed hospital was announced for Murree by former president Pervez Musharraf and ex-Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation of the hospital. However, the project did not materialise.

Similarly, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had announced a hospital for Murree in 2013. But the project could not be launched during the five-year tenure of the PML-N government.

During his tenure as petroleum minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had initiated a project to set up a 100-bed mother and childcare hospital.

The then Punjab finance minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha in her budget speech in the assembly in 2016 also announced to allocate funds for the hospital.

Recently, Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid visited Murree and announced that a mother and child health centre and a general outpatient department (OPD) would be established at the Samili Sanatorium Tuberculosis Hospital.

The previous governments established 14 Basic Health Units (BHUs) in all the 14 union councils and a 20-bed Rural Health Centre (RHC) at Phagwarri. Doctors were appointed in these centres but allied staff, proper residences for the doctors and other facilities are yet to be ensured.

The BHUs at Charehan, Tret and Kali Mitti provide 24-hour services of gynecology and also have ambulances.

But in the evening no doctor is available there and skilled birth attendants attend the women patients.

The post of senior medical officer at the RHC Phagwari is also lying vacant. Seven posts of vaccinators and as many posts of lady health visitors in Ghehl, Dewal and Sehr Bagla, Nambal, Phaphril, Ghorra Gali and Bann are also vacant. Kali Mitti, Phaphril and two other BHUs are without dispensers.

Proper water supply is also not available in the BHUs and the RHC.

Since the formation of the PTI government, not a single step has been taken by MNA Sadaqat Ali Abbasi to improve the healthcare facilities, said Junaid Aziz Abbasi, a local notable.

MNA Abbasi could not be contacted for comments.

Chief Executive Officer Health Rawalpindi Dr Rashid said vacant posts of doctors at the THQ hospital would soon be advertised and filled. He said efforts were also being made to construct residences for doctors.

He said a maternity centre at Samili Sanatorium had been announced by provincial health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and work was underway for the establishment of the centre.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2019