KURRAM: The main hospitals and basic health units in Kurram tribal district have been facing shortage of medical staff where around 300 vacancies of specialist doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff have been lying vacant.

Successive governments have failed to fill these posts and improve the health delivery system in the district.

Around half a million population of Kurram valley has been facing difficulties in getting treatment in local health facilities owing to shortage of senior doctors and lack of diagnostic facilities, which has been forcing the people to take their patients to Peshawar, Islamabad and other big cities for treatment.

Though the provincial government has extended universal health coverage to all citizens, health experts say that most of the districts in the province lack the required number of doctors and instruments. Resultantly, the patients turn to Peshawar and other cities overburdening the health delivery system there.

DHO says shortcomings to be addressed in next five to six months

Information gathered by Dawn reveals that a total of 300 posts, including 78 of doctors, are lying vacant at the district headquarters hospital in Parachinar, tehsil headquarters hospitals in Sadda and Alizai and basic and rural health centres.

Medical officer Dr Abdul Qaddus acknowledged the shortage of staff at DHQ hospital in Parachinar, which was established in mid 1970s. He said 105 vacancies, including 15 posts of specialist doctors, 14 medical officers and 24 nurses, were vacant in the hospital.

According to official statistics, 88 sanctioned posts of medical officers, lady health workers and paramedics are required to be filled at BHUs in far-flung areas of upper subdivision of the district.

The health facilities in Sadda, Alizai and parts of central subdivision are short of staff and machines. Sources said 29 posts of doctors and 55 of paramedics and technicians were lying vacant in lower and central subdivisions of the district.

Social activist from central Kurram, Abdul Khaliq Pathan, said that in some case the critically ill patients died on way to Peshawar. He said Chief Minister Mahmood Khan during his visits had announced upgradation of hospitals in Sadda and Alizai, but no practical steps were taken as yet.

He said people brought patients to Parachinar and Sadda, but left the hospitals disappointed. He said the people suffered physically and financially to take patients to Peshawar and other cities.

Ali Jawad, who belongs to Parachinar, told Dawn that inauguration of trauma centre in the DHQ hospital had been performed several times, but it was yet to be made functional.

When contacted, district health officer Dr Yadullah said all health facilities were operating properly despite shortage of staff. He said the matter of shortage of doctors and instruments had been brought into the government’s notice and all shortcomings would be addressed in next five to six months.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021