By: Jangsu
SHANGLA: The office-bearers of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa raised serious concerns on Sunday regarding the alarming state of health facilities in Shangla district, stating that residents are being denied their constitutional right to healthcare due to prolonged neglect.
During a meeting, Dr Murad Ali, Senior Vice President of YDA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with Dr Salahuddin Ayubi, Chairman of YDA Shangla district, and Dr Muhammad Humayun Khan, President of YDA Shangla district, discussed in detail the challenges faced by the local population in accessing basic medical services.
Dr Murad Ali emphasised that education and health are fundamental constitutional and legal rights of every citizen. However, despite the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party being in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past 13 years, the situation in both sectors has continued to deteriorate. “The poor state of health facilities in Shangla is evident to everyone,” he stated.
He pointed out that all health facilities in the district, including Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Centres (RHCs), Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals (THQs), and the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Alpuri, are facing severe shortages in facilities, staff, and equipment.
According to the YDA leaders, DHQ Hospital Alpuri, which serves a population of around one million, lacks a single intensive care unit (ICU) bed. They also noted that the hospital does not have a coronary care unit (CCU), echocardiography facilities, or qualified cardiologists and blood pressure specialists.
Furthermore, they reported that ultrasound services at the hospital are only available four days a week during morning hours, and digital X-ray facilities are restricted to morning shifts, resulting in poor-quality images and difficulties in making accurate diagnoses. Due to these inadequate facilities, critically ill patients, including those suffering from heart conditions, are frequently referred to hospitals in Swat, often resulting in fatalities during transport.
Dr. Humayun Khan mentioned that the hospital is experiencing a significant shortage of nurses and paramedics, with 28 nursing positions currently vacant. He added that over 50 medical officer positions, as well as all specialist posts, remain unfilled. The few specialists who have been recruited are serving on an own pay scale (OPS) basis, and there are also vacant posts for women medical officers and gynaecologists.
The YDA leaders claimed that the hospital laboratory is unable to perform even basic tests due to outdated and non-functional equipment. They also alleged that substandard medications are being dispensed at the hospital pharmacy and challenged drug inspectors to conduct an on-site inspection in the presence of the public.
Despite being eligible for the Sehat Sahulat Programme, services at DHQ Hospital Alpuri are not being provided as intended. The leaders highlighted that the hospital’s three ambulances have been transferred to Rescue 1122, creating significant challenges in referring critical patients.
The speakers also noted the absence of a functional blood bank, dialysis facilities, and a dedicated electricity line for the hospital, a demand that has remained unaddressed for the past nine years.
Criticising the government’s plan to outsource THQ Bisham, THQ Chakisar, and THQ Puran under a public-private partnership, the YDA leaders argued that this move would further marginalise the already underprivileged district. They also claimed that out of 38 BHUs and civil dispensaries in Shangla, only three currently have doctors.
The YDA leaders pledged to continue raising these issues at all forums and called on the people of Shangla, youth groups, civil society, the legal community, and political representatives to unite and support their struggle for improved healthcare facilities in the district.
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