Public healthcare: Provincial BHU network in shambles

YDA blames govt, govt blames doctors

LAHORE: While the provincial government braces to initiate dozens of health schemes in the forthcoming fiscal year, the province-wide network of Basic Health Units (BHUs) has been in a shambles for years.

While Rs12.43 billion has been earmarked for new primary and secondary healthcare initiatiatives for the forthcoming fiscal year, a majority of the Punjab’s 1,500 BHUs have either been rendered inoperative or have just been managing to make do, a senior Health Department functionary told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. “30 per cent of the units are completely out-of-function. Another 50 have been grappling with an acute paucity of facilities,” he said.



Aftab Ashraf of the Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) said that while a hefty amount had been allocated for primary healthcare, nothing had been done to revamp infrastructure standards across BHUs. “Most BHUs run without power. Many lack competent staff and medical equipment,” he said. Ashraf bemoaned as unfortunate the absence of funds being exclusively earmarked for BHU infrastructure. “The government can easily solve the problem. But only if it wants to,” he said.

The YDA functionary said it was worth thinking as to why most doctors were not keen on taking up appointments in rural areas despite lucrative offers.

He rejected the government’s claims about BHUs having been equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and stocked with medicines. He said most units did not even have cold storage facilities and a reliable supply of medicines. “Rs12 billion would suffice to establish modern BHUs across the Punjab. This, however, can only be done if the government prioritises it,” Ashraf said.

Health Department Spokesperson Ikhlaq Ali Khan placed the onus on doctors. He said they were simply not willing to work in remote areas of the province. “It is common knowledge that 30 per cent of BHUs have been lying dormant.

The government is keen on ensuring that BHU operations are streamlined,” he said.

Khan said doctors and paramedics were being offered perks to work at BHUs. “Even retired doctors have been allowed to work there. The government will ensure that those working across BHUs function in a secure environment and obtain agreeable accommodation,” he said.



BHUs offer a host of services ranging from health programmes, pregnancy tests and anti-venom medication to first aid. BHUs were established at the union council level following the bifurcation of healthcare into primary and secondary spheres last year. A fully functional BHU serves at least 25,000 people per month. In addition to basic healthcare, BHUs serve as outposts for malaria and tuberculosis control. Budget documents available with The Express Tribune reveal that a sum of Rs17 billion has been earmarked for primary and secondary healthcare in the forthcoming fiscal year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2016.