A number of female patients in Paktia have complained about the provision of services at provincial hospitals and district health centers, saying that the province’s health centers are not providing proper services and are short of equipment and medicine.
Zarghona, a patient who came to the Sayed Karam district health center, said that in addition to the lack of other equipment, there was not even an ultrasound examination center at the center forcing many patients to be sent to Gardez, the provincial capital.
Patients also complained about the lack of medicine at the main provincial hospital, saying that they often buy medicine for patients from outside the hospital on their own.
Fatima, another patient who was referred to the provincial hospital twice, said she had not been given any medication. According to Fatima, many poor women return home without medication.
“Sometimes there is medicine and sometimes there is not. Women walk long distances, but return home in despair in the absence of medicine”, she said.
Meanwhile, Paktia health officials acknowledge the shortage of medicine at the province’s health centers and say they are working to address patients’ complaints.
Earlier, a number of international organizations warned of the collapse of Afghanistan’s health system, saying that 90% of the country’s health centers could be forced to close.
ENDS
