Pakistan: Doctor shortage leaves Attock’s Chhab Health Centre in crisis
Maryam Nawaz Health Centre in Attock faces a crisis as vacant doctor positions and infrastructure failures leave patients without essential care.
A severe healthcare crisis has gripped the Maryam Nawaz Health Centre in Chhab, located in the Jand tehsil of Attock district, as a prolonged shortage of medical staff leaves patients in a desperate situation. The facility, which should be a cornerstone of local healthcare, is currently struggling to provide even the most basic medical consultations and prescriptions.
Patients forced to rely on dispensers
Due to the absence of qualified medical professionals, patients at the facility are being forced to depend on a dispenser for medical advice and prescriptions. This lack of professional oversight has driven many residents to travel long distances to hospitals in Rawalpindi just to receive necessary medical treatment.
The scale of the vacancy is significant. Reports indicate that out of the six sanctioned doctor positions at the 40-kanal facility, all remain vacant. This systemic failure has left the centre unable to fulfill its mandate of providing essential medical services to the local population.
Administrative negligence worsens the crisis
The staffing crisis has been compounded by what locals describe as administrative negligence. A doctor appointed on a temporary basis reportedly worked for only 20 days before going on leave. Furthermore, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Health in Attock has allegedly allowed the only available doctor to take leave without arranging a substitute, further crippling the facility's operations.
Local residents and relatives of patients, including Faisal Mushtaq, Ghyoor Ahmed, and Zareena Bibi, have issued urgent appeals to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and the provincial Health Department. They are demanding that all vacant positions be filled immediately and that substitute doctors be deployed whenever a serving physician goes on leave.
Infrastructure failures and wasted funds
The crisis is particularly striking given the recent financial investments made into the facility. Despite reportedly spending over PKR 30 million on upgrading the health centre this year, many parts of the facility remain unusable due to unresolved infrastructure issues, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the expenditure.
Key issues include:
- Electricity Crisis: A faulty electricity transformer has reduced the power supply to a single phase. This prevents patients from accessing vital X-ray facilities, even though the necessary equipment is available on-site.
- Unused Solar Power: While a solar power system has been installed at the facility, it remains disconnected, failing to alleviate the power shortages.
Residents have urged the hospital administration to formally submit a demand notice to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to facilitate urgent repairs to the transformer.
Demands for medical staff reinstatement
Beyond the vacancies, there is a growing demand from the community to reinstate Dr. Mansoor. After serving the hospital for 15 years, his contract was reportedly allowed to expire without renewal, leaving a significant void in the hospital's experienced medical staff.