GILGIT: Patients at the Gilgit Provincial Headquarters Hospital (PHQ) are facing severe hardships due to a shortage of facilities, medical equipment, supplies, human resources and frequent postings of medical specialists.

PHQ hospital is the largest government-run health facility in Gilgit-Baltistan which caters to patients from across the mountainous region grappling with governance issues and an inefficient public healthcare system.

Patients referred to the facility from various areas including Chilas, Nagar, Ghizer, Hunza, Darel, Tangir, and Baltistan have decried the lack of medical equipment, insufficient facilities and shortage of doctors.

Recently, more than 12 senior doctors including orthopaedics, general surgeons, medical specialists, urology specialists and child specialists from the hospital were transferred to other areas without providing for their replacement.

The move has caused a hue and cry amongst the patients regularly visiting this hospital.

A patient from Astore Valley, who was referred to the PHQ in Gilgit for an Ultrasound test, said he is forced to wait for over a month.

He said he may not be able to wait until April 20 given his health issues and financial situation.

He said that only one Ultrasound machine was functional in the hospital. Another patient said she had arrived from a remote area to get treatment for an ailment related to pregnancy.

“There is even a shortage of lifesaving medicines and surgery equipment. In the open market, it costs thousands of extra rupees to poor patients,” she said.

Meanwhile, hospital sources said that the annual budget of the hospital has been cut down and equipment and vital medicines cannot be purchased.

The hospital also faces a shortage of human resources to handle a high number of patients.

A patient admitted to the hospital said the facilities for patients were not enough as they had purchased everything on their own.

The operation theatre in the hospital is in shambles, said another patient who added that the required equipment is missing.

Thousands of patients from across the region visit the hospital every day. The posting of doctors allegedly on political grounds and the unavailability of medicines, equipment and other facilities have irked patients for a long.

Most of the time, patients from economically impoverished backgrounds are compelled to visit other parts of Pakistan for medical treatment as facilities are insufficient in the region.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025