North Waziristan Agency: State doctors neglect hospital duties to run private clinics

Administration hesitates to take punitive measures as replacements are hard to find.

MIRANSHAH: Around 50 people lined the corridor to the out-patient department (OPD) clutching their children, trying to comfort them as they cried in pain but Agency Headquarters Hospital (AHQ) paediatricians were nowhere to be seen.

“I have been waiting for the children’s doctor with my wife and baby since 8am, but the doctor hasn’t reached yet,” said Rasheed Nawaz, a tribesman from Tappi village.

His son had diarrhoea and cried all night long after which the worried father called a taxi and rushed to the hospital. Four hours later, the doctor had still not arrived. According to Nazwaz, he was probably busy at his private clinic in Miranshah Bazaar.

An elderly woman, from Razmak tehsil, was there with her son, her daughter- in-law and grandson.

As she washed a cloth her six-month-old grandson had vomited on, she said they were waiting for the doctor so he would diagnose their little boy, who was running a fever.



Last month, when she visited him, he allegedly humiliated her asking her to visit his private clinic. “We cannot afford to pay Rs200, which is charged at private clinics, that’s why we come to a public hospital despite its poor facilities.”

Familiar with the inner workings of the AHQ, a patient Faqir Muhammad said the only female doctor there remains absent from duty and only shows up when there is an official visit. The midwife usually has to step in as the doctor’s replacement.

Paediatricians Dr Ali Muhammad and Dr Raees Khan, eye specialist Jafar Khan, and medical specialists Dr Ghafoor and Dr Inamullah all have private clinics in the bazaar, Muhammad said. The doctors insist patients visit their practice instead of the government hospital.

Despite several attempts, none of the doctors accused of running private clinics were willing to comment.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Muhammad Ali Shah said 12 medical practitioners work at the AHQ and last month he issued notices to those who neglected their duty to run their own clinics.

The MS failed to mention if the doctors started attending the hospital after the notice.

He seemed hesitant to take stronger action against doctors and said it would be easy for them to leave and stick to their private practice, but very hard for the hospital to find replacements.

There was also the threat of retribution – if a doctor or medic is let go, his or her tribe could make life difficult for the person who lodged the complaint or fired the doctor.

However, Shah added that doctors show up if there is a bomb blast or a militancy-related emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2013.