NAWABSHAH, Sept 17: People are facing difficulties due to shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in public health centres and dispensaries.

The district health facilities need about 87 doctors and over 100 paramedical staff. There are 39 basic health units (BHU), nine rural health centres (RHC), 26 government dispensaries, two mother and child healthcare centres and one taluka hospital in the district.

However, many centres are non-functional due to shortage of doctors, paramedical and lower staff.

The doctors working in the Nawabshah health department seldom visit the centres.

Of the 134 posts of medical officers (BPS-17), 43 are vacant for long. Of the 22 posts of women medical officer (BPS-17), four are vacant, five of the seven of senior women medical officer (BPS-18) are vacant while two of the four posts of senior women medical officer (BPS-19) are vacant.

Of the 79 posts of senior medical officer (BPS-18), 28 and five of the 22 of senior medical officer (BPS-19) are yet to be filled.

Out of the 707, over 100 posts of dispensers, technicians, ward servants, watchmen, sanitary staff, Naib Qasids, midwives and gardeners are vacant.

Most of the doctors, especially women, remain absent from their duties.

Rural women are the worst sufferers as there are only three gynaecologists available with the EDO health office who are posted at RHC Qazi Ahmed, RHC Daulatpur and Sakrand taluka hospital.

Poor rural women, who badly need maternity services at their doorstep, have to visit private clinics of Nawabshah and other towns, bearing huge financial burden.

When contacted, Executive District Officer (health) Dr Abdul Khaliq Mangnejo said the department was managing the affairs of the health centres.

He said the demand for staff of 15 centres had been sent and it was lying with the finance department. Appointments could be made after the approval, he added.

He said doctors would soon be appointed through the Sindh Public Services Commission as interviews were being conducted in this regard.

Answering a question, he said women doctors were now being sent to centres regularly through mobile vans and their presence at the centres was being strictly monitored.

If any doctor or staff was found absent or negligent, strict departmental action would be taken against him or her, he said.

He said a team of doctors from the People’s Medical College, including a senior gynaecologist, a paediatrician and physician, was paying regular visits to the Sakrand taluka hospital.