Basic health units unable to get even the basics right

Most BHUs without generators, gas connections: report.

ISLAMABAD:

Contrary to their function to provide primary healthcare, a number of ‘basic’ health units (BHUs) across the country are lacking basic medical equipment and facilities. This was revealed in a report prepared by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen).

The report, based on 132 health units monitored in 85 districts across the country last month, points out that the BHUs are lacking even the bare necessities, such as syringe cutters, oxygen tents, wheelchairs, stretchers and sterilisers. Other facilities including generators, gas connections and landline telephones are almost non-existent.

The presence of staff seemed to be satisfactory, as 95% of monitored facilities had female staff to attend to patients and an equal percentage had health personnel to offer vaccinations.

Apart from that, 85% of BHUs offered advisory services to breastfeeding mothers.

The percentage of occupied posts wasn’t so bad either, with 81% posts of medical officers being filled across the country.

Nearly 92% posts of male technicians and 88% of female technicians were occupied, while the occupancy rate for birth attendants was 86%.

However, 49% BHUs did not have trained staff to treat tuberculosis patients, while 39% had no personnel to run the Control of Diarrheal Disease Programme. In addition, 33% were without staff to run the Malaria Control Programme.

The report said that 88% of BHUs monitored were linked by roads; 79% had proper buildings and 85% had boundary walls. Moreover, 92% of the BHUs were clean, 70% had clean drinking water and about 72% had residential facilities for doctors and other staff.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2012.