DADU, March 9: The Civil Hospital Dadu is facing a shortage of doctors and specialists in different medical fields for the last several years as a result of which patients were facing hardships.

It is the only hospital of the district which has no gynaecologist, cardiologist and surgeon in the orthopaedic ward.

The building of the hospital was handed over to the government by a social worker, Lady Graham in 1941 for poor people of this backward area.

The hospital, however, has fallen prey to lobbies of different officials of the health department since the last several years.

The hospital administration failed to provide services to patients who turned up for treatment. Besides, there was no equipment for operations. The administration had also increased charges of bed, ultrasound, X-ray, and operation charges among other things.

The patients described it as an unfair practice on the part of the hospital administration.

Ever since the transfer of a senior lady gynaecologist of the hospital, Dr Hameeda, considered one of the best doctors in the district, from this hospital her post has been lying vacant.

Only two rooms have been constructed here since 1941 for the gynaecology section.

The hospital administration admits more than 10 women in a single room. Besides, to accommodate more gynaecology patients, the beds of the surgical and medical wards have also been kept in these two rooms.

The cardiology ward has been lying closed since the last three months after cardiologist Dr Moin was transferred to Karachi.

The paediatrics ward has been set up in the ophthalmology ward.

A civil surgeon of the hospital, Dr Javed Ahmed Dawach, admitted that the hospital was facing great difficulties in treating patients in the absence of basic facilities.

He said that he had sent letters to the health department calling for services of specialists/doctors in various fields.

He further said that the lack of funds also hampered the repair and renovation of the hospital, and the quarters and bungalows of the staff of the hospital.

He said that the roofs of the private ward had collapsed.

Another surgeon, Dr M. Qasim Chandio, said that because of the shortage of equipment for operation untold hardships were being faced.

A lady doctor, Najma, shared same views for conditions prevailing in the maternity rooms.

A leader of the Para Medical Association, Sindh, M. Achar Panwhar said that the number of patients was increasing day by day, and added that between 700 and 800 patients visited the hospital daily.

ZILA NAZIM: Malik Asad Sikandar told this correspondent that all facilities would be ensured in the hospital and doctors would be posted as well.

He said that the instruments required for surgery would also be purchased.

He did not rule out action being taken against the corrupt and ghost staff of the hospital who avoided working there.