In a time of insecurity and violence, when doctors are needed ever more urgently at hospitals, Hangu’s only government hospital is suffering from insufficient medical staff, especially female doctors. This is causing patients great inconvenience, especially female patients who are supposed to be examined by female doctors. However, the administration of the hospital is not making any sincere efforts to solve this problem.

Local sources from Hangu have complained about the lack of any female doctors except one at the District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Hangu. Since the traditional customs don’t allow male doctors to examine female patients, the female patents visiting the hospital have great difficulty in getting treatment with convenience. It has been reported that, formerly, three female doctors used to serve at the hospital. But after the peace and security situation went worse in the town, one of them resigned while the other took leave for a few months. This has left only one female doctor for seeing female patients and sick child too, who are brought to the hospitals by their mothers or female guardians.

At the same time, male doctors are also leaving the hospital and over the past few months at least five or six male doctors have left the hospital, moving to other places where they feel comfortable and secure. These also include the only surgeon available at the hospital. At the moment there is no surgeon, no ophthalmologist (eye doctor), and no orthopedic doctor serving at the hospital.

This at a time when swarms of war-affected people have moved to Hangu from the neighboring tribal belt where a military operation has been launched against Taliban. In addition, diarrhea is also spreading among the local population. But the hospital administration is reportedly failing to do anything about getting the required medical staff for the hospital.