Hospitals ill-equipped to treat head injury

Poor people of S Punjab rely on motorcycles, hiking risk of injuries

MULTAN:

Lack of modern emergency services, especially neurosurgical facilities, at the district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) in South Punjab is posing a severe threat to the lives of patients with head injuries. The predominantly poor population of South Punjab relies on motorcycles for transportation, making head injuries a prevalent consequence of accidents. Unfortunately, the majority of the DHQ hospitals, including the ones in Vehari, Khanewal, Rajanpur and Layyah, lack the essential expertise to handle such emergencies, resulting in the referral of patients to larger hospitals like the Nishtar Hospital in Multan and the Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital. This, in turn, places an overwhelming burden on these major healthcare institutions.

The financial strain on the impoverished individuals was further exacerbated when they were compelled to bear travel expenses to get to the Nishtar Hospital in Multan or the Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital, said many of the people interviewed, including Shaukat Khan, Muhammad Asif, Ishnaaq, Shahid Razzaq, Muhammad Khalid and Saad Qureshi.

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The absence of neurosurgical facilities at the DHQ hospitals not only poses a serious threat to patients but also leads to a regrettable number of fatalities during the transit to larger medical centers. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the DHQ Emergencies in South Punjab struggle to provide essential diagnostic services such as X-rays and MRIs, especially during evening shifts, due to inadequate resources and staff shortages.

The current state of affairs is a burning issue, and it demands immediate attention and resolution from all parties concerned.

The people interviewed said that investment in the DHQ hospitals was imperative to addressing the pressing healthcare needs of the population in South Punjab.

Meanwhile, official sources said that work on some big hospitals, including Nishtar-II, had been in progress. Besides, funds had been allocated to improve healthcare facilities in the DHQ hospitals across the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2023.