LANDI KOTAL: The newly posted gynaecologist to district headquarters hospital in Landi Kotal has refused to assume charge, compounding the miseries of the local women patients.

The health department on August 20 ordered the transfer of Dr Parveen Nisar from Category-D hospital in Jamrud to district headquarters hospital in Landi Kotal as the post had been vacant for more than eight years.

Sources said that the newly posted gynaecologist didn’t report to the hospital despite a lapse of six days since her posting without any intimation to the administration. They said that Dr Parveen had so far failed to offer any valid reason for not taking up her new responsibilities.

Sources said that young mother of a newly born child died in the labour room of the hospital three days ago due to excessive bleeding as no specialist doctor was present on duty during the delivery.

Tribesmen protest absence of doctors and shortage of medical facilities

Dr Fazal Raziq, the acting medical superintendent of the hospital, refused to comment on the issue of newly posted gynaecologist. He said that he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

Dr Shafeeq, the district health officer, said that the acting medical superintendent of the hospital had the authority to issue a show-cause notice and then take disciplinary action against a doctor if he or she failed to report on duty within a week of posting.

The post of the medical superintendent has also been vacant in the hospital for some months. Some frustrated tribesmen staged a demonstration at the main gate of the hospital on Monday against the absentee doctors and shortage of proper medical facilities.

Mehrab Shah Afridi, a young social activist, said on the occasion that the operation theater of the hospital had been without oxygen for the last few days as the acting medical superintendent was not ready to shoulder any responsibility.

The protesters demanded immediate removal of the acting medical superintendent and appointment of a permanent MS alongside taking disciplinary action against the newly posted gynaecologist for not attending to her duty.

MACHINE: Hundreds of vehicles loaded with import goods got stranded at the Torkham border after the scanning machine installed and run by National Logistic Cell developed a technical fault two days ago.

Custom clearing agents said that most of the stranded vehicles were loaded with fresh fruits that could rot if not cleared promptly. They said that NLC and custom staff refused to check their goods manually despite their repeated requests for early clearance.

NLC and custom officials could not be approached for their comments.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2019