PESHAWAR, July 26: Police occupation of buildings constructed for delivering health facilities have been affecting the healthcare of the patients, source told Dawn.

"Many of the basic health unit (BHUs) buildings have been occupied by the city police, which is adversely affecting the treatment of patients visiting these facilities," said a district health official.

The official said that BHUs located at the Pakha Ghulam and Chugharmati localities have been occupied by police, and so doctors in these health facilities examine the patients in their houses.

The nazim of the Pakha Ghulam had also made a presentation before the district nazim and police high-ups regarding the occupation, but to no avail, he said and that the female patients had to face immense problems, because the police personnel were always present at the gate of the BHU.

The police personnel also consumed electricity at the premises, the bill of which is paid by the district health office, he said. A resident of the same village said that there was enough staff at the BHU, but the presence of police was the main problem hindering the entry of the people, especially the women.

According to the official, another BHU located at Regi village, which was recently vacated from police by the government, had received an electricity bill of Rs120,000, which was impossible for the department to pay.

"The Wapda authorities have taken away the electricity meter and the patients needing X-ray and other tests have to suffer for non-availability of electricity," he said.