Saturday, August 8, 2015

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa - Monitoring unit lifts lid on dismal state of health care

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health department’s newly-established Independent Monitoring Unit has validated what has remained common knowledge about the province’s health sector for years.
According to department sources, the IMU report on health facilities in Peshawar district has panicked the movers and shakers of the sector.
The unit, comprising 175 officers hired through the National Testing Service, was set up as a three-year project with Rs478.9 million. Its purpose is to oversee quality service delivery at the 1,600 state-owned health centres run by 63,000 staffers in K-P.
The report has acknowledged a majority of the provincial capital’s health centres are understaffed, underequipped and in a dilapidated condition. They also lack basic facilities. Most people from across the province head to the city in the hope of receiving quality medical assistance which is not available in other areas.
Mattani Civil Hospital
The report revealed Mattani Civil Hospital is overstaffed yet the officials are not regularly attending their duties. The laboratory equipment is outdated and non-functional. A power generator is present but due to non-availability of fuel, seldom runs. Although it is a civil hospital, it has only a single medical officer and the surgeon visits the hospital twice a week. However, no surgeries are conducted due to the absence of anaesthesia and technicians.
BHU Shaikh Muhammadi
Irregularities were also unearthed at BHU Shaikh Muhammadi’s inventory register. The labour room is in a working condition but staffers do not provide services regularly. The solar panel provided by an NGO had been taken away by the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative officials.
In dire straits
BHU Adezai is in dire straits and frequent power cuts have become the norm. It does not have a drinking water facility and neither does it have restrooms. The laboratory is non-functional whereas the hospital inventory is devoid of medicines. However, the staffers are regular.
CD Irrigation Colony
The civil dispensary is also in a dilapidated condition and even lacks an entrance gate. Toilets, sanitation, electricity generator and solar panels are out of the question. The laboratory is also out of order.
BHU Sherkera
Staffers at BHU Sherkera were found to be irregular in attendance. Sources in the health department quoted locals as saying that the officials leave the facility around 11am daily. The stock register is not maintained properly and the unit also does not have a medical officer. Furthermore, a power generator and solar panels are also missing.
Meanwhile, CD Garhi Mali Khel lacks an electricity meter and wiring and is in the poorest state.
According to the IMU report, staffers at CD Zargarabad are irregular in attendance and the entire human resource is heavily politicised. Besides being used for immoral activities, the facility is also used for private functions. An orderly and a watchman were the only staffers present.

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