Islamabad’s outskirts: Surviving without medical help
Rural health units are severely understaffed and under-equipped.
ISLAMABAD:
The outskirts of Islamabad are facing a severe shortage of medical staff in the government-run installations.
Currently, 12 posts of doctors at 14 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and three Rural Health Centers (RHCs) of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) are vacant. There is only one drug inspector for about 500 medical stores, while three posts for this position have been lying vacant for the last five years.
Talking to The Express Tribune, an official said since these health units are located in the rural areas of the capital, they are managed by the local administration under the Ministry of Interior and doctors are posted there on deputation.
Efforts have been made to hire three drug inspectors for the last five years, but have not been successful.
“There is no dentist available at any of these health units either. There is also a shortage of paramedics, ambulances, stretchers and medicines,” he said.
For medicines, he said, about Rs4 million have been allocated for the population of over 1.4 million. The per-head amount comes out to be Rs10 per person, which according to the official is insufficient.
He further said that due to the deplorable conditions of these health units, people in rural areas are forced to visit public hospitals in Islamabad and bear added transport expenses.
“However, it is being hoped that the newly appointed District Health Officer (DHO) will address these issues,” he added.
During a visit to an RHC located in Phulgran, Bhara Kahu, it was observed that dogs, goats and cows roam freely in the premises of the centre.
They apparently make their entry from the backside of the facility where the boundary wall is broken. The structured which was constructed in the mid 19080s is in a shabby condition. Even after the passage of thirty years, the building has not been renovated.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Raja Mujtaba, a resident of the area, said the centre covers a large area but due to lack of basic facilities, people prefer to go to either the main Bhara Kahu RHC or to Islamabad. The treatment facilities are not satisfactory at all.
“There are no ambulances in the centre so in case of emergency especially at night it becomes difficult to take patients to the hospital,” he said.
An official who works over there said on condition of anonymity, “There is a doctor available at the centre around the clock but we badly need a senior doctor.”
Amir Ali Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, agreed that 12 posts are lying vacant for doctors in BHUs and RHUs.
“It is because doctors refuse to work in rural health units due to lack of incentives and professional growth,” he said.
On the issue of hiring three drug inspectors, he said a request has been moved to the chief commissioner of Islamabad and there is hope that it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Interior.
He said due to shortage of funds these health institutes remain neglected in terms of equipment and ambulances, however the federal hospitals are now supporting ICT by giving surplus funds from their projects.
He said ICT in collaboration with Ministry of Health is upgrading all the BHUs and RHCs and will ensure the availability of all basic facilities.
“We are starting it with RHC Barakhu,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.
The outskirts of Islamabad are facing a severe shortage of medical staff in the government-run installations.
Currently, 12 posts of doctors at 14 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and three Rural Health Centers (RHCs) of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) are vacant. There is only one drug inspector for about 500 medical stores, while three posts for this position have been lying vacant for the last five years.
Talking to The Express Tribune, an official said since these health units are located in the rural areas of the capital, they are managed by the local administration under the Ministry of Interior and doctors are posted there on deputation.
Efforts have been made to hire three drug inspectors for the last five years, but have not been successful.
“There is no dentist available at any of these health units either. There is also a shortage of paramedics, ambulances, stretchers and medicines,” he said.
For medicines, he said, about Rs4 million have been allocated for the population of over 1.4 million. The per-head amount comes out to be Rs10 per person, which according to the official is insufficient.
He further said that due to the deplorable conditions of these health units, people in rural areas are forced to visit public hospitals in Islamabad and bear added transport expenses.
“However, it is being hoped that the newly appointed District Health Officer (DHO) will address these issues,” he added.
During a visit to an RHC located in Phulgran, Bhara Kahu, it was observed that dogs, goats and cows roam freely in the premises of the centre.
They apparently make their entry from the backside of the facility where the boundary wall is broken. The structured which was constructed in the mid 19080s is in a shabby condition. Even after the passage of thirty years, the building has not been renovated.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Raja Mujtaba, a resident of the area, said the centre covers a large area but due to lack of basic facilities, people prefer to go to either the main Bhara Kahu RHC or to Islamabad. The treatment facilities are not satisfactory at all.
“There are no ambulances in the centre so in case of emergency especially at night it becomes difficult to take patients to the hospital,” he said.
An official who works over there said on condition of anonymity, “There is a doctor available at the centre around the clock but we badly need a senior doctor.”
Amir Ali Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, agreed that 12 posts are lying vacant for doctors in BHUs and RHUs.
“It is because doctors refuse to work in rural health units due to lack of incentives and professional growth,” he said.
On the issue of hiring three drug inspectors, he said a request has been moved to the chief commissioner of Islamabad and there is hope that it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Interior.
He said due to shortage of funds these health institutes remain neglected in terms of equipment and ambulances, however the federal hospitals are now supporting ICT by giving surplus funds from their projects.
He said ICT in collaboration with Ministry of Health is upgrading all the BHUs and RHCs and will ensure the availability of all basic facilities.
“We are starting it with RHC Barakhu,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.