Undeniable dilemma: Health centres exist, but not willing staffers
Patients from rural localities suffer as 30 per cent of posts in 16 basic health units lie vacant.
Patients from rural localities suffer as 30 per cent of posts in 16 basic health units lie vacant. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration claims that sixteen health care units in the suburbs of the capital would be renovated by mid-June this year, but running these will be the real challenge due to a shortage of staff.
Sources in the ICT have told The Express Tribune that more than 30 per cent posts are lying vacant in 14 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and two Rural Health Centres (RHCs).
“The reasons behind staff shortage are the ban on new recruitment, along with the existing medical staff unwilling to work in the suburbs due to a lack of incentives,” said the source.
The source gave the example of the RHC in Bhara Kahu, saying that the 25-bed integrated centre --- inaugurated in 2011 by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani --- was supposed to serve as a model for other such centres in town.
“Unfortunately, the centre provided quality health care services to the patients for hardly a year-and-a-half. Now, it is facing a dearth of medical staff as Pims and Polyclinic have withdrawn 26 of their medical staffers from there,” he said. He was of the view that poor health care services in the rural areas are one of the key factors behind high maternal and infant mortality in the country.
“If this is the condition of health care infrastructure in the federal area, what can one say of other cities and remote areas? It is a fact that without improving health services at grassroots level, the country cannot overcome issues regarding maternal and infant mortality,” said the source.
Last year, the centre faced a shortage of medicines which in turn burdened poor patients who used to get drugs for free. However, a few days ago the issue was resolved after been highlighted in the media, said the source.
“Healthcare units in the suburbs are in a deplorable state, due to which the poor are forced to visit public hospitals in urban Islamabad, which then get overcrowded and deprive some of getting quality healthcare services,” said the source.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul said that a project to renovate fourteen BHUs and two RHCs started in 2011 and is in progress.
He said that under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Rs56.8 million were allocated for the renovation of two RHCs in Sihala and Terlai, of which Rs26.6 million had been spent till June 2013. Moreover, Rs30 million was allocated for this year, out of which Rs12 million has been released. The remaining Rs18 million will be released in the next two quarters, added Paul.
At the same time, Rs56.9 million was allocated for the renovation of BHUs. Of this, Rs33.9 million had been spent by June 2013, said Paul. He added that Rs23 million was allocated this year, of which Rs9.2 million has been released, with the rest to follow.
He agreed that BHUs and RHCs are understaffed, adding that the shortage can only be overcome by lifting the ban on new recruitment.
“Although the ICT administration planned to appoint medical staff at these health care units on deputation from other cities, most people are unwilling to serve in rural areas if they are not offered any additional incentives,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2014.
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration claims that sixteen health care units in the suburbs of the capital would be renovated by mid-June this year, but running these will be the real challenge due to a shortage of staff.
Sources in the ICT have told The Express Tribune that more than 30 per cent posts are lying vacant in 14 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and two Rural Health Centres (RHCs).
“The reasons behind staff shortage are the ban on new recruitment, along with the existing medical staff unwilling to work in the suburbs due to a lack of incentives,” said the source.
The source gave the example of the RHC in Bhara Kahu, saying that the 25-bed integrated centre --- inaugurated in 2011 by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani --- was supposed to serve as a model for other such centres in town.
“Unfortunately, the centre provided quality health care services to the patients for hardly a year-and-a-half. Now, it is facing a dearth of medical staff as Pims and Polyclinic have withdrawn 26 of their medical staffers from there,” he said. He was of the view that poor health care services in the rural areas are one of the key factors behind high maternal and infant mortality in the country.
“If this is the condition of health care infrastructure in the federal area, what can one say of other cities and remote areas? It is a fact that without improving health services at grassroots level, the country cannot overcome issues regarding maternal and infant mortality,” said the source.
Last year, the centre faced a shortage of medicines which in turn burdened poor patients who used to get drugs for free. However, a few days ago the issue was resolved after been highlighted in the media, said the source.
“Healthcare units in the suburbs are in a deplorable state, due to which the poor are forced to visit public hospitals in urban Islamabad, which then get overcrowded and deprive some of getting quality healthcare services,” said the source.
Islamabad Chief Commissioner Jawad Paul said that a project to renovate fourteen BHUs and two RHCs started in 2011 and is in progress.
He said that under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), Rs56.8 million were allocated for the renovation of two RHCs in Sihala and Terlai, of which Rs26.6 million had been spent till June 2013. Moreover, Rs30 million was allocated for this year, out of which Rs12 million has been released. The remaining Rs18 million will be released in the next two quarters, added Paul.
At the same time, Rs56.9 million was allocated for the renovation of BHUs. Of this, Rs33.9 million had been spent by June 2013, said Paul. He added that Rs23 million was allocated this year, of which Rs9.2 million has been released, with the rest to follow.
He agreed that BHUs and RHCs are understaffed, adding that the shortage can only be overcome by lifting the ban on new recruitment.
“Although the ICT administration planned to appoint medical staff at these health care units on deputation from other cities, most people are unwilling to serve in rural areas if they are not offered any additional incentives,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2014.