CHARSADDA: Patients have been facing hardships owing to shortage of facilities, doctors, nurses and other staff in the District Headquarters Hospital, Charsadda, for last several months.

Sources said both the posts of deputy medical superintendent (DMS) (BPS-19 and 18), six posts of district senior specialist (DSS) (BPS-19) and seven posts of district specialist (DS) (BPS-18) had long been lying vacant.

They said one post each of clerical staff in BS-17, 16 and 11 and five posts of computer operators were also lying vacant.

They added about 10 posts of nurses, nine posts of paramedics, five posts of Class-IV workers, and three posts of sweepers were also lying vacant.

The sources said three posts of chief medical officers (BPS-20), 24 posts of principal medical officers (BPS-19 and BPS-18), four posts of MOBs (BPS-17), and several posts of general MOBs (BPS-17) also remained vacant.

The sources said seven departments, including cardiology, ENT, nephrology, anesthesia, gastro, psychiatry and feeds were without specialist doctors.

Similarly, posts of senior district specialists in cardiology, orthopaedic, psychiatry, children and E NT were also lying vacant.

Furthermore, they said posts of district specialist (BPS-18), including that anesthetist, child an eye specialists, gastro, ENT, medical, nephrologist and gynaecologist were also lying vacant.

Moreover, the sources said over a dozen doctors had been either on long leave, absent or transferred on DHQ parole, due to which the patients were facing difficulties.

When contacted, medical superintendent Dr Shoaib Mohammad confirmed to Dawn the shortage of doctors and other staff, saying the government and other relevant authorities had been informed in writing in that regard.

He hoped the staff shortage issue would be resolved soon.

He said in a short period of four months after his appointment as MS, he had taken several steps towards resolving the lingering issues. He promised solution to all problems for the betterment of hospital.

Dr Shoaib said renovation, repair and extension work at children’s ward had been completed. He said all the inactive machinery had been made operational in various wards.

He added modern films had been provided to X-Ray machines.

He said eight counters had been computerised at the OPD to tackle people’s rush.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2023