The need for better health care in rural Pakistan
Health care services in rural Pakistan suffer a great deal from ill management and lack of will and focus by the government. This accompanying video depicts the condition of one such government run facility in rural Mardan District of NWFP, Pakistan.
Rustum Civil Hospital, located 200 KM north of Islamabad, was established during the British Raj era (Pre 1947) during their expansion into this region. However, since that time, its quality and services have deteriorated to a level where it has become non-functional. There is only one doctor on duty and he too is never to be seen at the facility (at least we did not find him anywhere in the hospital during our visit). There are no nurses or paramedics on duty but there are a few listed in the hospital register and receive regular monthly salaries from ministry of health. Only one lab technician and some support staff were present during our visit. The facility has no regular flow of patients, as they tend to stay away and seek health services elsewhere.
Children's ward, x-ray lab, pharmacy and other such regular services were closed for business. In fact, the doors to them were permanently padlocked. Even the government provided ambulance was locked up and not in use. The facility had in-patient beds but no nurses or doctors to care for sick. There was an operation's theatre but it was highly unhygienic and therefore, cause of more diseases. Over all the conditions were really poor and not suitable for a health facility.
This is a huge facility built over many acres. It would be advisable if government proactively outsources all such facilities that they are unable to manage and run properly. A lot of resources (utilities, space, salaries etc) and precious lives are being lost each day. They should let a non-profit with experience of running such facilities be allowed to bid and run such facilities on a long term basis (ten years or more). The government should then concentrate on regulating them only and making sure they meet the minimum criteria for health care services. We believe this way, many of the government resources will be productively used and the rural communities will get improved health care services in the long term. It is definitely a win-win situation for all.
Rustum Civil Hospital, located 200 KM north of Islamabad, was established during the British Raj era (Pre 1947) during their expansion into this region. However, since that time, its quality and services have deteriorated to a level where it has become non-functional. There is only one doctor on duty and he too is never to be seen at the facility (at least we did not find him anywhere in the hospital during our visit). There are no nurses or paramedics on duty but there are a few listed in the hospital register and receive regular monthly salaries from ministry of health. Only one lab technician and some support staff were present during our visit. The facility has no regular flow of patients, as they tend to stay away and seek health services elsewhere.
Children's ward, x-ray lab, pharmacy and other such regular services were closed for business. In fact, the doors to them were permanently padlocked. Even the government provided ambulance was locked up and not in use. The facility had in-patient beds but no nurses or doctors to care for sick. There was an operation's theatre but it was highly unhygienic and therefore, cause of more diseases. Over all the conditions were really poor and not suitable for a health facility.
This is a huge facility built over many acres. It would be advisable if government proactively outsources all such facilities that they are unable to manage and run properly. A lot of resources (utilities, space, salaries etc) and precious lives are being lost each day. They should let a non-profit with experience of running such facilities be allowed to bid and run such facilities on a long term basis (ten years or more). The government should then concentrate on regulating them only and making sure they meet the minimum criteria for health care services. We believe this way, many of the government resources will be productively used and the rural communities will get improved health care services in the long term. It is definitely a win-win situation for all.
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