PESHAWAR, Dec 26: Shortage of funds and lack of security and electricity at healthcare centres in the Peshawar district are hampering provision of health facilities to people. “Funds are released on a quarterly basis, which hinders efforts for purchasing drugs,” said an official at the EDO (health) office.

He said there were 114 healthcare centres in the city, but most of the staff was complaining about lack of security, especially at night.

“We have services of 92 lady health visitors and female medical technicians, but most of them do not prefer to do nigh duty,” he said.

As a result, women needing simple maternal care are taken to the tertiary-care hospitals, he said.

The official said that patients also avoided visiting the facilities because of shortage of drugs.

The government has allocated Rs18.82 million for the purchase of drugs in this year’s budget, which will be released in four instalments.

“We have received two instalments and most of the hospitals have run out of medicines,” he said.

“The NWFP government issues fund to the district administration that transfers the amount to the EDO (health), taking long time,” he said.

Last year more than 1.4 million patients visited health centres, including three rural health centres, one civil hospital, 48 basic health units and 52 dispensaries.