No doctors for children with gastro issues in K-P
In the absence of a physician parents are compelled to take their offspring to hospitals in other provinces.
Shahbaz Khan, a resident of K-P who was attending to his nephew at Children’s Hospital, Lahore, lauded the Punjab government for saving his nephew’s life. STOCK IMAGE
PESHAWAR:
As many commercials on national television today depict, children complaining about stomach aches, digestion issues or anorexia are commonplace. Unfortunately, there is not a single paediatric gastroenterologist in the entire province who can help cure a child’s stomach woes.
In the absence of a physician who deals with intestinal and stomach disorders of children, parents are compelled to take their offspring to hospitals in other provinces. Lahore, Punjab is the usual destination. Parents are forced to bear travelling and accommodation expenditures. Despite receiving free medical assistance at public health facilities there
Shahbaz Khan, a resident of K-P who was attending to his nephew at Children’s Hospital, Lahore, lauded the Punjab government for saving his nephew’s life. The child complained of pain in his liver and was admitted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where after 24 hours the paediatrics department staff informed Khan the required treatment facility was not available.
“I had to rush him to Lahore before his condition deteriorated further. Had I been in Peshawar, accommodation would not have been an issue. Here I have to stay in a hotel as long as the treatment lasts,” Khan said.
Gastroenterological assistance is a ‘luxury’ only adults can enjoy at LRH and Hayatabad Medical Complex amongst all the hospitals of K-P. “Hospitals are already overburdened with the influx of patients. They do not even have posts for paediatric gastroenterologists,” said a health department official while talking to The Express Tribune. The official said 30 gastroenterologists are present in the province, but owing to a dearth of staff and designated departments at teaching hospitals, these specialists are forced to serve as general physicians and medical officers.
Postgraduate Medical Institute Dean Dr Riaz Anwar told The Express Tribune the introduction of these posts was sanctioned last year and that advertisements will soon be issued.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2015.
As many commercials on national television today depict, children complaining about stomach aches, digestion issues or anorexia are commonplace. Unfortunately, there is not a single paediatric gastroenterologist in the entire province who can help cure a child’s stomach woes.
In the absence of a physician who deals with intestinal and stomach disorders of children, parents are compelled to take their offspring to hospitals in other provinces. Lahore, Punjab is the usual destination. Parents are forced to bear travelling and accommodation expenditures. Despite receiving free medical assistance at public health facilities there
Shahbaz Khan, a resident of K-P who was attending to his nephew at Children’s Hospital, Lahore, lauded the Punjab government for saving his nephew’s life. The child complained of pain in his liver and was admitted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where after 24 hours the paediatrics department staff informed Khan the required treatment facility was not available.
“I had to rush him to Lahore before his condition deteriorated further. Had I been in Peshawar, accommodation would not have been an issue. Here I have to stay in a hotel as long as the treatment lasts,” Khan said.
Gastroenterological assistance is a ‘luxury’ only adults can enjoy at LRH and Hayatabad Medical Complex amongst all the hospitals of K-P. “Hospitals are already overburdened with the influx of patients. They do not even have posts for paediatric gastroenterologists,” said a health department official while talking to The Express Tribune. The official said 30 gastroenterologists are present in the province, but owing to a dearth of staff and designated departments at teaching hospitals, these specialists are forced to serve as general physicians and medical officers.
Postgraduate Medical Institute Dean Dr Riaz Anwar told The Express Tribune the introduction of these posts was sanctioned last year and that advertisements will soon be issued.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2015.