Govt Deputes Doctor to Chhab Maryam Nawaz Health Centre After Public Outcry

Residents demand permanent filling of six vacant doctor posts, warning that a state-of-the-art facility is of little use without regular medical staff and functional basic services.

Hamid Khan Wazir

ATTOCK: Following public outcry and media reports over the absence of doctors at the Maryam Nawaz Health Centre in Chhab, the government on Tuesday deputed a doctor to the facility as a temporary measure to address the immediate crisis, locals told The Global Times.pk. 

Residents, however, have demanded a permanent solution to the serious public health issue, saying lasting measures are needed to prevent further hardship for the local population.

The 40-kanal, recently upgraded health centre in Chhab, Jand tehsil, had once again been left without a doctor after the only physician posted there went on leave on October 3, just 20 days after joining the facility. The latest deputation came after the issue was highlighted in the media and residents raised concerns over the availability of medical and emergency services.

Residents demanded that while the immediate shortage had been addressed with the deputation of a doctor, the government must fill all six sanctioned doctor posts on a permanent basis to prevent the health centre from repeatedly becoming non-functional whenever a doctor goes on leave or is transferred.

“The government should not wait for media reports or public protests every time the hospital is left without a doctor,” residents said, stressing that a health facility of this scale requires a permanent medical team rather than temporary arrangements.

The health centre, formerly known as Rural Health Centre (RHC) Chhab, had remained without a doctor for nearly a month before the issue was previously highlighted by residents and the media. Following complaints submitted to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab health minister and the Maryam Nawaz Complaint Cell, the CEO Health Attock had issued a notification on September 4 for the appointment of a doctor.

The locals told this scribe, the doctor joined the facility on September 9 but subsequently proceeded on a week's leave to Multan on October 3, once again leaving the health centre without a physician.

Residents questioned why an alternative doctor was not deputed before approving the leave of the only doctor serving at the facility, particularly as the centre provides emergency services to the local population.

They said six doctor posts are sanctioned at the health centre, but the posts have remained vacant for a prolonged period. They demanded that all sanctioned positions be filled immediately through permanent appointments.

Rs 30 m upgrade but basic services still affected

The health centre has undergone an upgrade costing more than Rs 30 million. However, residents said the availability of a modern building alone cannot ensure healthcare services without adequate and permanent medical staff.

“The government may have spent millions of rupees on upgrading the hospital, but a state-of-the-art building without doctors is of little benefit to the people,” residents told The Global Times.

They said the hospital's faulty transformer was resulting in a single-phase electricity supply, affecting the operation of the X-ray machine despite the facility being available at the centre. Residents said the required payment for transformer repair had reportedly not been made to IESCO.

They demanded that the hospital administration immediately submit the required demand notice to IESCO and ensure repair of the transformer so the X-ray facility can become operational. The health centre also has a solar power system installed, but residents said it has yet to be connected.

Residents also called for the restoration of the contract of Dr Mansoor, who had served at the health centre for around 15 years before his contract expired without extension. They said his services could help bridge the staffing gap until permanent doctors are appointed.

They further demanded that doctors recruited against the Chhab area's quota be posted at the local health centre. Residents urged the Punjab government and the Health Department to adopt a permanent solution by filling all six sanctioned doctor posts and ensuring adequate staffing of the health centre.