THE pathetic healthcare delivery system in the country has been adding to the misery of the people. I experienced this recently when a four-year-old child in the family was injured at home in Karak district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Despite visiting a private clinic and the district headquarters (DHQ) hospital, his condition worsened due to lack of adequate medical facilities and specialist doctors.

The Karak DHQ Hospital was of no help, lacking basic equipment and staff. We were advised to go to the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, where we faced further delays because there were no beds available. When we finally reached the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, the doctors informed us that the delay in treatment had caused an irreversible damage, leading to the child’s death.

To identify the real cause of death, we sought a post-mortem exam. However, the hospital refused, arguing that no FIR had been lodged. The police at the hospital directed us all the way back to Karak, where the FIR was eventually filed after a lot of hurdles.

The Sabirabad Sub-Tehsil Hospital, which was supposed to conduct the post-mortem, also refused, citing a lack of forensic expertise, and referred us back to the Karak DHQ Hospital. Initially, the officials there refused to perform the post-mortem, but on repeated insistence, they took the necessary samples.

It has been more than a month since the examination was held, but we are still waiting for the post-mortem report.

This tragic experience highlights the critical shortcomings in our hospitals and police system. The underprivileged people are left helpless, facing the bureaucratic red tape and insufficient services in their most desperate times. The relevant authorities should address these issues to prevent more such tragedies.

Naqib Ullah
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2024