Security fears force closure of DFCA-run health unit Tank district

TANK: A basic health unit in a remote area of Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan has been shut for weeks after a doctor refused to report to duty due to security concerns, depriving residents of essential medical services, locals and officials said.

The facility in Bejo area of Tank district, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was among 14 basic health units recently handed over by the provincial government to Direct Focus Community Aid (DFCA), a non-profit organisation registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance, 1961.

Residents said the facility had significantly improved access to healthcare after DFCA took over, providing medicines and maternal care services in the impoverished region.

“People come from far-flung areas but are forced to return without being seen by a doctor,” said Shura Sabeeh Nazim, a local. “The facility was functioning well and people were benefiting from it.”

Another local, Sajid Nasir, said the closure had caused severe hardship. “The hospital has been shut for days and people are in distress. We urge the government to support the staff so services can resume,” he said.

Patients echoed the concerns, saying the absence of doctors had left them with no access to medical care. “We were satisfied with the services earlier, but there has been no doctor here for over a week,” one resident said.

Locals said the facility had previously been staffed by two doctors and had a functioning system to handle patients, including maternal and child healthcare. The presence of doctors had drawn large numbers of patients from surrounding areas.

Some patients reported worsening health conditions due to the closure. “I am in severe pain and there is no treatment available,” one patient said, appealing to local authorities for immediate intervention.

Residents called on district authorities to ensure security for medical staff and restore services at the facility, warning that prolonged disruption could further strain healthcare access in the already underserved region.