9 specialists’ posts in BKMCH, Swabi, lying vacant since long

SWABI: The Health Department has failed to fill the nine posts of specialists at the Bacha Khan Medical Complex Hospital (BKMCH) in Shahmansoor, sources told The News on Tuesday.

The sources in the hospital said that junior doctors have been performing all duties in the absence of specialists.“The BKMCH has 20 posts of specialist doctors,” the sources said, adding, only 11 specialists have been working in the hospital while the remaining nine positions were lying vacant for unknown reasons.

They said that the non-availability of some specialists like anesthetist has made it impossible to conduct surgeries in the hospital and patients were compelled to go to private hospitals or Peshawar for treatment.“The positions of specialists are lying vacant at the hospital despite the fact that the health minister is from the district,” a paramedic told The News on the condition of anonymity.

The patients said they were getting free medicines from the hospital and doctors come in time, but they added that the hospital needs a general surgeon, gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon, anesthetist, pediatrician and technicians to improve healthcare. It has been learnt that the hospital lacks family accommodation facilities for doctors as well. When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Riaz told The News that 17 posts of doctors were vacant and added that appointment orders have been issued on Monday and the doctors would take charge of their duties soon.