Pneumonia poses new challenges to K-P’s health mechanism

Officials question govt’s claims of upgrading primary healthcare facilities, their efficacy

PESHAWAR: As pneumonia grips the provincial capital, with reports that at least three children lost their lives to it this week, they have challenged the provincial health ministry’s claims of ‘upgrading health facilities’ in the peripheries.

The ministry has claimed to have upgraded primary healthcare facilities which could offer services during emergencies. However, with the influx of patients at tertiary care hospitals in the provincial capital, questions have been raised about the claimed capabilities of these facilities.

Hundreds of children have been admitted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) with complaints of acute respiratory infections, pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

“If facilities at the peripheries do not offer services, the ministry should close them,” remarked one health official after children died at the tertiary care hospitals.

The official insisted that the ministry must question district health officers over their performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2018.