SKARDU, March 21: The non-presence of female gynaecologists and pathologists in two district headquarters hospitals in Skardu and Ghanche is causing severe hardship to women. District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Lt-Col Dr Ammar Raza told Dawn on Monday that some posts of gynecologists and pathologists had been lying vacant for seven years and despite repeated requests made to authorities concerned no female gynaecologist or pathologist had been appointed.

“During some special delivery cases, we had no choice but to get male surgeons handle pregnancy cases,” Dr Raza said.

Because of non-presence of female gynaecologists or obstetricians, pregnant women often seek help from nurses, which frequently results either in miscarriage or death of women patients.

The medical superintendent said that DHQ hospital cater to requirements of patients of two districts of Baltistan. Because of lack of latest medical facilities and specialist doctors in the DHQ hospital, Khaplu, doctors there referred most of the patients even those with minor ailments to the DHQ hospital, despite the fact that DHQ hospital which itself faced shortage of doctors and paramedical staff.

At the outdoor patients department, the duty medical officer examines 450 patients daily. Similarly, in women’s section, the lady DMO examines almost 500 women patients daily. Thus, above 900 patients are treated daily in the hospital which leaves no time for doctors even to have tea or lunch break and this has badly affected health of doctors working in the area.

Dr Raza said that the hospital was established in 1983, with 50 beds, but now the hospital had 154 beds. In the beginning, four lady medical officers were appointed but now only one lady and four male medical officers performed duty in the hospital, while the requirement was 15 medical officers and 19 paramedical staff, he said.

Dr Khadim Hussain, a medical officer working in the hospital, said that hundreds of doctors belonging to Northern Areas had been serving on a contract basis in various hospitals of the Northern Areas, but their contracts had been terminated last year.

“The government should immediately regularize their services, extend their contracts and more unemployed doctors should be employed.

“In this way, not only Northern Areas’ unemployed doctors would get employment but it would help ease overburdened doctors of the government hospitals of the area.