Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has decided to upgrade the Bhara Kahu Rural Health Centre (RHC) to provide health facilities to residents of the area in their neighbourhood.

Once the RHC is upgraded, its referral will be mandatory for the residents of the area to get treatment at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic.

It will decrease burden on both the hospitals of the federal capital as the number of patients visiting Pims and Polyclinic had increased, making it difficult for the staff to focus on critical patients.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia, while talking to Dawn, said the government had decided to construct additional blocks at RHC aimed at facilitating the residents.

“As an initial step, we have decided that the RHC would remain open from 8am to 8pm but with the passage of time it would be made functional round the clock. A summary has been moved to the federal cabinet to allow hiring of doctors and staff as we want to upgrade all RHCs and basic health units of federal capital,” he said.

“Repair work in the existing building is also going on simultaneously as there were number of issues the RHC faces. We have upgraded the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Shah Allah Ditta due to which around 300 patients visit the facility daily. That number of patient to Pims and Polyclinic has decreased,” he said.

“Same will be the case with Bhara Kahu RHC as we hope that daily hundreds of patients would visit there. As it has been decided that no patient of the area would be accepted at tertiary care hospitals without having referrals, it will become possible to discourage those patients who come to tertiary care hospital just because of flu or other such diseases,” he said.

Replying to a question, Dr Zia said currently three doctors, three lady health visitors, one vaccinator and other staff have been appointed at Bhara Kahu RHC.

“Current staff is sufficient for one shift but by June we will start double shifts. Later it would be made functional round the clock. It has also been decided to establish a baby clinic having facilities of incubators and other equipment,” he said.

A large number of women deliver babies at homes or at local clinics so in case of any complication children are shifted to hospitals to keep them in incubators.

Because of the baby clinic, it will become possible for the residents to bring their children there rather than to Pims and Polyclinic.

Dr Zia said as 65-bed Mother and Child Hospital was also being established adjacent to the RHC, it has been decided to link it with the baby clinic.

Talking to Dawn, Ministry of National Health Services spokesperson Sajid Shah said BHUs had been established a number of times before and staff were deputed there, but over time, they became dysfunctional, and gradually disappeared.

“However it has been decided that a designated officer would be appointed to ensure that the RHCs and BHUs are run smoothly. Biometric attendance would be introduced so that no officer could skip,” he said.

Mr Shah said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Zafar Mirza had a vision that primary healthcare system should be expanded and tertiary care hospitals entertain only emergency cases.

“We will also establish health committees in the areas and local representatives and Lambardars would be made members of the committee to ensure that medicines are available and patients get medical treatment without any hindrance,” Mr Shah said.

Though a number of BHUs, dispensaries and RHCs have been established over the years, majority either became redundant or were being used as warehouses. There were also reports of goods and furniture being stolen from the BHUs.

Ever since getting the charge of the NHS ministry, Dr Mirza decided to focus on the primary healthcare units. As majority of the primary healthcare units were in terrible condition, it was decided to renovate them.

Speaking at a press conference on Sept 24 last year, the special assistant had said that 16 basic health units were not being utilised for the last one decade.

“We have decided to make them functional and deputed doctors there from tertiary care hospitals. A referral system is also being established to shift patients from there to tertiary care hospitals,” he had said.

Pims Media Coordinator Dr Waseem Khawaja said though Pims was a tertiary care hospital which meant for patients having severe complications but the situation was opposite.

“Unfortunately, we get majority of patients having minor issue and most of our time and resources are spent on their treatment. If we get only complicated cases, not only staff would be able to give them more attention and better treatment but their burden would also be reduced,” he said.

To prove his point, Dr Khawaja said that over 100 babies were born in the hospital daily due to which patients faced difficulties. It would be better if only complicated cases were referred to Pims.

“However, whenever a patient is suggested to go to the primary healthcare units for minor problem, he or she prefers Pims as people have confidence in the hospital,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2020