MARDAN, May 4: The gynaecology ward of district headquarters hospital, Mardan, is these days functioning without any lady doctor, as all its seven doctors have got themselves transferred from the ward one by one using different connections, officials and residents said.

They said that five of the seven lady doctors had already got themselves transferred from the gynae ward to other wards due to workload and round the clock duty by using different connections, while the remaining two were transferred to other hospitals of the district on Wednesday.

When contacted, the DHQ hospital medical superintendent Dr Mohammad Tahir Khan confirmed the transfer of all lady doctors from the gynae ward. He told Dawn that the gynae facility of DHQ was running without any lady doctor though it required about 10 doctors owing to work overload and frequent visits of outdoor patients.

“I have sent more than 17 reminders and applications to the district coordination officer, commissioner and relevant officials of the health department to ensure availability of at least eight lady doctors to the gynae ward, as it is difficult to handle the patients rush,” Dr Khan said.

He said that he was helpless to properly handle the affairs of district headquarter hospital, Mardan, owing to much political pressure and interference in this regard.

The residents said that on the one side Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti had upgraded different health facilities, including the gynae ward, in Mardan, on the other medical services were deteriorating day by day.

They urged him to take notice of the matter and order posting of lady doctors in the gynae ward.