Specialists deputed by Baluchistan Health Ministry, at all DHQ hospitals

MN Report

QUETTA - The Ministry of Health in Baluchistan has recently transferred 132 specialists to 16 District Headquarters Hospitals (DHQs) across the province. This was donewith the aim to improve healthcare services throughout the interior and rural region of the province. This was stated by the Minister for Health -Rehmat Saleh Baloch, during a recent news conference held at the Quetta Press Club.

According to media reports; The provincial minister said that his ministry had terminated around 20 doctors who were on deputations and not providing healthcare services. “The state of healthcare is not up to the mark in the province. However, the ministry is taking every step to improve it.These 132 specialists would be serving in districts like Panjgur, Gwadar, Pishin, Qila Abdullah and Khuzdar, where hospitals could not provide good healthcare services due to non-availability of doctors.

Baloch said these doctors had been directed to report at their respective DHQs within a week. He said that he used to receive complaints that there were no doctors in many DHQs in interior Balochistan. “The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is higher than other provinces but it is being controlled by appointing gynaecologists in areas like Washuk, Khuzdar and Panjgur where MMR is worst,” he said. Around 21 gynaecologists had been appointed in DHQs, he claimed.

The minister said his ministry is making efforts to get three hospitals - Sheikh Zayed, Mufti Mehmood and Shaheed Benazeer hospitals in Quetta – declared as teaching hospitals, to increase the strength of the doctors. “A breast cancer centre would be set up in Sheikh Zayed Hospital,” he said. It would be the first ever breast cancer centre in Balochistan, the Minister told the reporters.

Health Secretary - NoorulHaq Baloch who was present in the news conference said; Each doctor has been issued one million rupees to ensure better healthcare services. “Lack of resources is another major issue besides the dearth of doctors in major parts of Balochistan,” he said. The secretary said his government would make Sheikh Zayed Hospital completely functional by March 15 next year. “There is machinery worth Rs2 billion, but only the OPD is functional,” he said.