Patients resent lack of medicine, beds in Paktia hospital

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): Some residents of southeastern Paktia province complain about the lack of medicine and beds at the zonal hospital. Visitors say they are facing a whole host of problems.

On the other hand, local government officials say efforts are underway to address the issues as soon as possible and put in place all possible facilities.

Sabir Gul, relative of one of a patient, told Pajhwok Afghan News there was a shortage of medicine and patients had to purchase them in the market.

He also grumbled there was no facility at the hospital for key tests, which had to be carried out at private hospitals and clinics.

Gul added: “There is a shortage of medicines, beds and most of drugs are purchased in the market. People with economic woes cannot bring everything from the market. These problems must be addressed by the government.”

Mohammad Ayub, who brought a patient, also claimed there was a shortage of medicine at the zonal hospital. He has to buy the required medicine in the market.

He cited lack of beds at the hospital as another issue that needs to be sorted out on a war footing. Other patients and attendants held similar views.

Mohammad Nader Rahmani, director of the zonal hospital, said they could meet the needs of Paktia inhabitants only. But the hospital is also visited by patients from Khost, Paktia and Logar provinces.

He acknowledged there were fewer beds in the children’s ward. Most of the time, he said, one bed was shared by two or three children.

“Formally speaking, the hospital has 150 beds but people from other provinces also come here. Our 150 beds remain occupied all the time.

“We have to accommodate two or even three patients on one bed in the children’s ward. Our request is to upgrade the hospital to 300 beds.”

Public Health Director Maulvi Khair Mohammad Mansour said they were striving to upgrade the hospital and increase the number of beds and other facilities.

The director believed with formal upgrading of the hospital, most of the problems would be resolved.

Officials say health centres in Zurmat, Syed Karam, Dand-i-Patan, Chamkani and Ahmadkhel districts have been upgraded, but they have not been given the facilities required.

sa/mud