DHO report reveals staff shortage, lack of critical facilities at DHQ Hospital Dasu and looming strike
PESHAWAR:
Despite the introduction of a public-private partnership (PPP) model in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s health sector, conditions in several government hospitals have not improved, with serious deficiencies reported at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Dasu in Upper Kohistan.
According to sources, the District Health Officer (DHO) Upper Kohistan sent a detailed report to the CEO of the Health Foundation earlier this month highlighting several administrative and medical problems in the district’s largest hospital. The report was prepared after an inspection visit by DHO Dr. Taj Muhammad.
The report reveals that out of 11 sanctioned consultant posts at DHQ Hospital Dasu, only two consultants, an orthopedic surgeon and a general surgeon, were found to be present on duty. The hospital management informed that two ENT and pediatric consultants were on official leave. Similarly, only 12 out of 20 doctors were available for duty, while only 10 nurses were working against a sanctioned strength of 25. The entire paramedical staff of 37 employees was reported to be fully available.
The DHO also drew attention to the serious lack of essential health facilities at the hospital. Apart from a few beds, there are no proper indoor services available for the stabilization of emergency patients. Despite being a large district hospital, DHQ Dasu has no intensive care unit (ICU) and lacks a blood bank. The hospital’s only digital X-ray machine has been out of order for several months due to technical faults.
The absence of a qualified anesthesiologist has further reduced surgical interventions to an absolute minimum. The report emphasizes the urgent need to upgrade the hospital to meet basic health standards.
Sources said that while the health ministry has outsourced several hospitals in remote districts under the PPP model, many of these facilities continue to experience operational crises. Despite government funding and contractual agreements, staff at several OPP hospitals have repeatedly protested over non-payment of salaries and inadequate provision of medical facilities.
At DHQ Hospital Dasu, employees have allegedly not received salaries for the past five months.
