New hospitals

The federal government, under direction from the prime minister, has decided to set up 46 new hospitals in the country. The main problem with the health sector is not the dearth of hospitals but the absence of essential health facilities in them. There is already a District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) in almost every district of the country combined with Tehsil Headquarter Hospitals and rural health centres in rural areas. But all these healthcare centres hardly possess the essential heathcare facilities that are required for the treatment of secondary and tertiary diseases. Many of these hospitals lack medical laboratories, expert doctors, and medical equipment like X-ray machines, ventilators, lithotripters, dialysis machines etc.

The federal government will do well if it diverts the funds allocated for construction of new hospitals to already existing hospitals. New blocks for the treatment of secondary and tertiary healthcare should be constructed in these hospitals to prevent patients from having to travel to big cities for treatment. Similarly, new labs and essential healthcare medical equipment should be provided as well. That would lessen the burden on hospitals in big cities. Thus, a policy of consolidation the existing health facilities should be adopted rather than merely expansion of the heath facilities that are in shambles.

M Sayyad Alam Khan

Peshawar