Umarkot facing serious shortage of doctors

The DC mentioned that there are 588 posts of doctors out of which 478 are vacant

KARACHI:

Shortage of doctors in Umarkot shows that all efforts of the Sindh health department have met total failure. Despite increase in salaries and special allowances, more than 80 per cent of posts of doctors are lying vacant.

The deputy commissioner of Umarkot has sent a letter to the health secretary and the executives of the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) stating that there is a severe crisis of doctors and other staff in Umarkot district.

The letter says, there are 209 hospitals and basic health units (BHUs) in the district, while 168 hospitals do not have doctors. The DC has demanded that doctors should be appointed immediately.

The DC has mentioned in his report that there are 588 posts of the doctors out of which 478 are vacant.

Moreover, 941 positions out of 1,840 para medical staff are also vacant in the district, the DC said, adding that diseases are spreading in the district, so doctors and health staff should be appointed immediately.

The letter and report of the DC has created panic in the health department.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2022.