Khairuddin Shadani | Chitral Today
GARAM CHASHMA: The Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Garam Chashma, established to serve over 50,000 residents, is now a symbol of decay, negligence, and systemic failure.
The hospital lacks essential facilities, trained staff and emergency services, leaving patients, especially in emergencies and maternal care, at serious risk.
During a recent visit to the hospital by ChitralToday, a local complained how a cardiac machine was operated by an untrained technician. Another parent recounted that an ambulance arrived an hour late for his injured child, old and in poor condition. It was only thanks to Rescue 1122’s intervention en route that the child received proper transport.
Such stories raise urgent questions: Why is Garam Chashma still without reliable emergency services or a functioning Rescue 1122 station?
Hospital officials explain that a partnership with Aga Khan Health Services Pakistan (AKHSP) fills the government’s void. AKHSP has deployed 4–5 doctors and some machinery, with treatment offered at public rates. The government provides AKHSP direct funding for medicines and maintenance, but no permanent government-appointed doctor is posted at the facility.
Unlike nearby areas like Bumburate and Ayun, where Rescue 1122 stations are active, Garam Chashma has none. Political representatives, including MPA Fateh-ul-Mulk Ali Nasir and MNA Abdul Latif, remain silent on the issue.
A tragic case emerged of a newborn\’s death during an alleged delayed and mishandled delivery. Despite repeated calls, the gynecologist did not arrive. Complaints also cite rude behavior from staff and poor patient treatment.
Adding to concerns, several high-cost health facilities built by AKHSP in Garam Chashma and Shoghore remain non-functional. If AKHSP seeks to operate privately, it must not do so at the expense of public healthcare.
Immediate government action is essential. The hospital must receive full THQ-level staffing, medicine, equipment, and 24/7 emergency services. A Rescue 1122 station must also be established without delay.
The people of Garam Chashma will no longer stay silent. This is not just a health crisis, it’s a question of survival.