SKARDU, Nov 10: The doctors and patients of district headquarters hospital here are facing great difficulties owing to lack of paramedic staff and other facilities.

This hospital was established in 1983 with 50 beds to provide medical facilities to the people of Baltistan. At that time, the population of Skardu was much less and the doctors strength and the facilities available at the hospital were enough.

But with the passage of time, the population of the area increased, and so did the number of patients.

Now the hospital has 154 beds, but the paramedics staff and other facilities are the same as in the beginning. This has not only added immensely to the workload of doctors, but also left patients in misery, as they face great hardships in getting better treatment.

During a survey conducted by Dawn, senior officials of Pakistan Medical Association Baltistan and the Medical Specialist of DHQ hospital, Skardu, said it was the only hospital which provided treatment to patients of two districts — Skardu and Ghanche.

“In view of the patients rush, the authorities have extended the admission capacity to 154 beds, but are reluctant to provide additional doctors and paramedic staff,” a senior physician, Dr Muzaffar said.

“Being the only hospital in whole of Baltistan, we are forced to handle 750 to 800 patients daily in the out-patients department. The doctors are made perforce to do 100 to 110 hours duty, while the approved official duty hours are 46,” he added.

“Similarly, a maximum of 40 patients used to undergo operation in a month until 1990, but now-a-days about 500 patients are operated upon on a monthly basis.”

Dr Niaz Ali, an eye specialist, said that several posts of medical officers and specialists were lying vacant in the hospital, but the authorities were not filling them.

Back in 1983, when the hospital was 50-bedded, four posts of lady doctors had been sanctioned. But at present, only two lady doctors are performing duty. Similarly, two gynaecologists had been approved, but these posts have been lying vacant for the last several years, increasing the problems of women patients. Those with pregnancies are the hardest hit.

“There are only four approved medical officers in the hospital, while the requirement is fifteen, five surgeons and medical specialists are needed, while at present only two are available on each post. Two child specialists are available, when two more are needed,” he added.

“In this regard, we submitted several complaints to the authorities concerned, but to no avail,” he complained.

The people are compelled to get the services of untrained nurses in respect of delivery cases, which sometimes result in deaths of patients. At times, people are left with no other option but to get the services of male doctors.

Doctor Sharif Shifa, a cardiologist, said the authorities had established TB ward, child ward, gynae/OBS ward, ENT ward, eye ward, ITC ward, isolation ward, emergency ward and officers ward, but these were running without nursing staff, as they had not been appointed.