SWABI, Sept 30: Leaders of various political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, have demanded of director general health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to immediately fill the vacant posts of physicians at Swabi’s two major civil hospitals because presently there is no physician in the district to treat dengue patients.

They told Dawn that government should take prompt action for posting of physicians to the district headquarters hospital and Shahmansoor Hospital Complex.

They said that the presence of physicians was must for the treatment of dengue patients, asking why the replacement was not ensured after transfer of physicians from the district hospitals.

The first dengue case in Swabi district was confirmed on Friday and the patient belonged to Manki village.

Abdul Karim, advisor to the chief minister, said that he had talked to the district health officer and they would take immediate steps for the transfer of physicians because only the establishment of isolated ward at Shahmansoor Hospital Complex was not sufficient.

Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan MPA Babar Khan said that they had already discussed this issue with the health minister and appealed for transfer of physicians to Swabi district.

Masood Jabar of Qaumi Watan Party said that they wanted the health authorities to strengthen the existing infrastructure in the civil hospitals to facilitate patients.

He said that precautionary steps should also be taken to control dengue fever in the district.

Ameer Rehman, former ANP MPA, said that staff provided to the hospitals by the previous government had been transferred.

Former district nazim Jehan Zeb said that the major hospitals in the district should not be used as referral centres and adequate staff, including physicians, should be provided to tackle the dengue threat.