KASUR, April 29: Twelve posts of doctors, including a cardiologist and a chest specialist, have been vacant at the district headquarters hospital for the past few months.

Executive District Officer (health) Dr Muhammad Zulfiqar told Dawn on Tuesday that the hospital was without a cardiologist for the last 13 months, a physician for one-and-a-half-year, a radiologist for two years, a chest specialist for an year, two dentists and an anaesthetist for four years, four women medical officers and a pharmacist.

Dr Zulfiqar said he had sent many letters to the health high-ups, but to no avail. However, the district government had provided Rs1.5 million to equip the cardiology ward.

It is learnt that heirs of deceased women had been facing a great deal of difficulty in autopsy in the absence of the women medical officers.

A survey conducted by this correspondent revealed that around 650 to 700 patients, most of them suffering from heart ailment, daily visited the hospital.