“No budget for operation theater in THQ hospital”, DHO

PT Report

Gulmit, April 3: District Health Officer, Wazir Muhammad, told community members during a visit of the Tehsil Headquarter Hospital that the health department does not have 3.5 million rupees for establishing operation theater at Gulmit hospital. “It will take some time”, the doctor said.

Former governor, chief minister, chief secretary and health secretary during different visits have repeatedly promised establishment of an operation theater at hospital but the project has not been materialized yet.

The local people are not ready to buy the idea of shortage of funds. “When it comes to taking protocol the chief minister has the budget to use 22 vehicles and 90 policemen; 12 vehicles in Gilgit, 6 in Skardu and 4 in Islamabad, but there is not money for establishing an operation theater”, an angry community member told Pamir Times. “They are not interested in saving the lives of our children”, she further said.

Meanwhile a mobile team of male and lady doctors of the Aga Khan Health Services has started providing medical facilities in the region. The team established a camp at Shishkat yesterday and today they are expected to camp at Gulmit. The mobile team will travel throughout the Tehsil and provide primary health facilities. However, the secondary and tertiary health services remain a major challenge for people of the region.