CHITRAL is a far-flung and environmentally the hardest region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which remains in the grip of severe cold weather for more than six months a year. During the winter season travelling the down country for a medical checkup or other chronic health issues is a serious problem for poor patients.

Usually a candidate acquires a seat in professional medical colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the basis of Chitral quota. After becoming a doctor, he often expresses his reluctance to serve in Chitral, but prefers to serve in down country, especially in Peshawar.

Being the remotest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all health facilities should be available in Chitral to mitigate the suffering of poor patients. People of the area mostly lament that the government is not taking interest in solving their problems. Although the demand of the people is justified, it may be mentioned here that when the people of Chitral who get seats for the MBBS degree on the basis of Chitral’s quota are not ready to serve in Chitral, then how could anyone blame the government!

Recently, after the chief justice and the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s visits, some steps have been taken to solve Chitral’s chronic problems relating to the health sector. All doctors belonging to Chitral have been sent back to serve in this remote district in order to facilitate local patients. This step is appreciated.

I further request that all specialists and medical officers who are serving in Peshawar be sent back to Chitral where they truly belong. If specialist doctors will migrate to Peshawar and other cities, then remote districts like Chitral and Dir will suffer seriously.

Owing to the migration of doctors to down country, a large number of doctors’ posts are lying vacant in various health units of Chitral. Because of this situation, the downtrodden members of the community are suffering greatly.

NASIR MEHMOOD Drosh, Chitral