HARIPUR, Nov 22: The District Health Board, Haripur, has criticized abolishment of certain posts of health professionals as well as withdrawal of health-care facilities from the Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs) of the district by the provincial government.

The board, which met here on Friday with its head Dr Raja Amer Zaman, the District Nazim, in the chair, had been convened to explore ways and means for improving the efficiency of the district health department. It deliberated on the problems of general public and certain health-care facilities as well.

The participants identified the causes of the prevailing poor state of health facilities in Haripur and suggested a raft of measures to tackle the problems of shortage of financial resources, professional staff, inadequate diagnosis and treatment facilities and lack of interest shown by the doctors and paramedics in their duties.

Speaking on this occasion, executive district health officer, Haripur, Dr Abdul Latif, apprised the participants of some of the achievements, current activities, future plan as well as the problems and difficulties faced in the provision of health services.

The board was told that the DHD, already faced with scarcity of funds in providing health services to Haripur’s population of seven lakh, could not afford a further deterioration of health services when the provincial government, under a recently-implemented policy, had already abolished certain posts of MOs and related facilities from the BHUs and RHUs.

However, the board praised the efforts of DHD for eradicating polio and maternal & neonatal tetanus under different immunization programmes launched in collaboration with “Save the Children”.

Raheel Nazir, head of Haripur district reproductive health programme of Save the Children and Dr Abdul Bari, the deputy manager, also highlighted the prominent features of the project and sought proposals from the participants.

The board urged introduction of a round-the-clock service delivery system, particularly in the rural areas’ outlets, besides restoring the withdrawn facilities.

Expressing his concern over what he called the “negative attitude” of the hospitals’ staff, district Nazim, Dr Raja Aamir Zaman, asked the doctors to concentrate more on serving the ailing humanity rather than minting money.

“Either mend your ways and do what you are supposed to do or quit the public service,” he warned, adding that any doctor or paramedic ever found guilty of inefficiency would be dealt with iron hand under the prescribed rules.

Referring certain instances of slackness and lack of interest on the part of some doctors and health assistants in their duties, the Nazim stressed the need of devising pragmatic and effective measures for a revamp of the health services district-wide.