MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has initiated an investigation against the doctors, paramedics and other staff of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Pattan in Lower Kohistan who remained absent from duty.

“I paid surprise visits to various health facilities during pre- and post-Eid festivities and found doctors and other staff absent and recommended to the Health Department to initiate legal action against them,” the additional assistant commissioner (general) Lower Kohistan, Adeel Hussain Shah, told reporters on Tuesday.

He said that on the directives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the deputy commissioner, Tariq Mehmood, he paid surprise visits to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and found doctors and other staff absent from their duty.

“We cannot allow anybody to challenge the writ of the government and deprive patients of healthcare services, and this is why I have, through the deputy commissioner, written to the Health Department to take strict action against those absent from their duty,” Mr Shah said.

He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had assigned special duties to doctors, paramedical and other staff to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to patients on Eid and the rest of the holidays. “Those who challenged the order and didn’t show up at their respective duties would be taken to task under the relevant sections of the law,” he added.

“I have also directed the district health officer to ensure that patients are being provided with healthcare services,” Mr Shah said.

Meanwhile, the assistant commissioner Mansehra, Sana Fatima, paid a surprise visit to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital and met with doctors, paramedical staff and patients.

She inquired about patients’ health and asked about their problems.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2026