Ghost infrastructure: Dispensaries in Swat nothing more than crumbling concrete

Constructed in the 80s, 90s, the units either never became functional or shutdown over missing staff

MINGORA:

A large number of state-run dispensaries across Swat district are gathering dust. They have no medical or administrative staff and the buildings which house them are falling to pieces. 

Even though some of these dispensaries never became operational, the residents of Rahimabad, Qambar, Guli Gram and Amankot are now pressing the government to make them functional.

The dispensaries were set up to provide basic medical care to thousands of residents during the tenure of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1988 and 1996 through the People Works’ Programme under a special quota from MPAs.

A matter of convenience

“We were quite happy when the government set up a health dispensary in our locality,” Abid Ali, a resident of Rahimabad, was talking about the health dispensary set up on GT Road in Rahimabad in 1988 to cater to the medical needs of over 30,000 residents. Since it has remained largely non-functional, locals suffer the ordeal of making the long and expensive journey to Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH) for treatment. They have to stand in long queues at the hospital to see a doctor.



“The STH is usually overcrowded and we have to pay exorbitant fees—even for a regular medical check-up,” added Ali.

“The government should repair the building, provide necessary equipment and depute medical staff immediately,” demanded Gul Faraz, another resident of Rahimabad.

Residents of Guli Gram village have complained of similar woes.

“The STH is far away and is usually crowded. When a dispensary was set up in our village in 1996, we were excited as it would be convenient for us,” Asghar Ali, a teacher in Guli Gram, told The Express Tribune. “However, the dispensary never opened its doors to the public.”

He added villagers had repeatedly pressed elected representatives and the district government to make the dispensary operational. However, the government has not paid attention to their needs.

Rusting away

Another dispensary was constructed in 1996 on GT Road in Rahimabad to provide basic health facilities to over 30,000 residents.

According to residents, this was fully equipped but could not provide service to patients due to the absence of medical and administrative staff.

Without a system of checks and balances, the equipment at the dispensary has rusted away and become defunct, the furniture stolen, they added.

Looking ahead

It is difficult to envisage any positive change which can emerge from the government’s involvement as there is some confusion on the matter of ownership.

According DHO Dr Syed Ali Khan, the dispensary has not been transferred to the district health department. As a result, the health department has no authority to maintain the building or guarantee that it functions smoothly.

Those at the district executive health officer’s office said 28 dispensaries had been established under the People Works’ Programme. However, not all of them were constructed through the Communication and Works Department (C&W) and handed to the health department.

“All the buildings of health department are constructed through C&W and then handed to the health department for staff deployment and other prerequisites,” an official requesting anonymity informed The Express Tribune.

However, the health department has taken an initiative to obtain administrative control of these dispensaries. They have pressed for these ‘ghost dispensaries’ to be handed over to C&W for renovation and repair. Once this process is completed, the department will be able to provide medical and administrative staff to the dispensaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2014.