Lacking resources: A hospital without doctors

Mir Ali Hospital caters to three tehsils of the subdivision, but lacks even basic facilities.

MIRANSHAH/ PESHAWAR: Thousands of tribesmen are looking towards the government to take notice of the abysmal conditions at the headquarters hospital located on Bannu-Mir Ali Road.

Half a kilometre east of Mir Ali Bazaar, Mir Ali hospital was established in 2001 during the rule of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

However, the hospital lacks basic facilities such as clean water, sanitation and electricity. These issues have been coupled with a high rate of staff absenteeism. Meanwhile, negligence on the part of the government in the war-torn area has further increased problems for the tribesmen of Spin Wam, Shawa and Mir Ali tehsils.



Not a single specialist doctor has been assigned for the Orthopaedic, Surgical, ENT and Gynaecology wards since the hospital was established. There are no dentists since the last three years either. Patients can only be seen in the outpatient department while their relatives rush outside to purchase medicines as none are available inside.

The doctors who are on duty are usually found checking patients in their private clinics and even their houses inside the hospital’s vicinity. There are 13 posts for nurses in the hospital, of which only three are occupied. Of these three, only one attends to the patients while the other two allegedly receive their salaries at home.

From the three ambulances available, two are functional while one remains parked inside the hospital since years, waiting to be repaired.

“Around a hundred patients visit the hospital daily, but there are no facilities for them,” said a local, Attaullah. Among all, the issue of lack of security in the hospital is the most severe, he added, claiming vehicles are parked without checking and anyone can enter the hospital.

“It is unfortunate the past and present governments have taken no notice of the issue,” said tribal elder Khyal Muhammad. He requested the government to provide basic health facilities to tribesmen.

When contacted, Mir Ali Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ashraf Ali said he has repeatedly forwarded complaints and requests to senior officials, but no action has been taken so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2013.