UMERKOT, Dec 11: Hospitals in Umerkot district are facing shortage of medicines and specialists due to inadequate budgetary allocations.

The population of the district, according to 1998 Census, stands at 663,000 with an annual growth rate of 3.28 per cent while the Extended Programme of Immunisation put the figures at 915,700.

Health officials say that out of the sanctioned 1,185 posts of specialists, doctors and other staff, there lay vacant some 610 posts in the district.

There is a dearth of ophthalmologist, anaesthetists, skin specialist, ENT, chest specialist, gynaecologist, pathologist, radiologist, paediatrics, cardiologist, pharmacists, nursing superintendent, physiotherapist and male & female medical officers and nurses.

Thus, a large part of the population of Umerkot, Thar, Samaro, Kunri, Pithoro, Chhor, Khokhrapar, Dhoronaro and adjoining areas are deprived of better health facilities and compelled to visit private clinics.EDO Health Dr Umer Rind told Dawn that the Sindh government under an agreement with the district government has transferred administrative control of 42 health facilities of district Umerkot to Peoples Primary Health Initiative started by the previous government to improve health facilities in rural areas.—Correspondent