BAJAUR: The Category-D public hospital in Larkholozo area of Lowi Mamund tehsil here lacks facilities despite being run on the public-private partnership model since October 2022, complain visitors.

They told Dawn that the hospital, established 15 years ago with around Rs400 million funding from the federal government, was the second major public health centre in Bajaur after the Khar district headquarters hospital and catered to a population of over600,000.

The visitors said the hospital was approved by Engineer Shaukatullah Khan, a native of Bajaur tribal district, during his term as the provincial governor as residents had to go to Khar due to the absence of any health facility in the area.

They, however, complained that even 15 years after its establishment, the hospital had failed to deliver the goods despite the introduction of the public-private partnership model in October 2022.

The visitors insisted that the hospital had all necessary equipment but offered treatment for minor issues only due to a persistent shortage of doctors and specialists.

Insiders claimed that the hospital lacked funds and even struggled to pay employees on time.

They insisted that the prolonged payment delays forced almost half of the staff members, mostly senior and specialist doctors, to quit, badly affecting the services, while more could follow suit soon.

The sources claimed that they hadn’t come across any “tangible” plans from the health department and the Health Foundation, a public sector entity responsible for the public-private partnership contracts in the province’s healthcare sector, to immediately address the funding issue.

Malik Javid Ali, an elder of Lowi Mamund tehsil and co-owner of the hospital land, told Dawn that the facility was of no use for lacking essential services.

He said the land was given away to ensure provision of primary and advanced healthcare to people but the hospital had failed to deliver.

“The health department and local lawmakers should ensure that the hospital becomes fully functional without delay,” he said.

Junaid Khan, a social activist in War Mamund tehsil, said most residents visited private hospitals or the district headquarters hospital in Khar.

He insisted that the hospital’s performance worsened after it was handed over to the private company in October 2022.

“We [residents] will stage street protests if the health centre isn’t restored as a fully-equipped public hospital,” he said.

When contacted, hospital chief Dr Khurshid Khan insisted that the health centre was well-equipped and offered most of the essential services required for primary healthcare.

“Visitors have access to a wide range of routine medical services without difficulty,” he said. Dr Khan promised early resolution of the other issues.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026