Battal residents demand staff for RHC, other facilities

MANSEHRA: Residents of Battal and surrounding areas have called on the government to address the longstanding issue of vacant posts for doctors at the lone health facility in their region.

At a public forum organised by the district administration on Friday, locals expressed frustration over the inadequate health services at the Rural Health Centre, Battal. They said they have to shift patients, particularly women and children, to hospitals in Mansehra and other parts of Hazara division due to the shortage of medical staff locally.

Assistant Commissioner Baffa-Pakhal Nayab Abbasi, along with heads of line departments, attended the forum and listened to the complaints from the community. The residents also voiced concerns over a significant increase in taxes on land transactions, which they said has slowed property sales and purchases. Additionally, they criticised the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) for failing to provide sufficient civic services.

In response, Assistant Commissioner Abbasi assured the public that she would address their concerns promptly.“I will take up the issues of land commutations and transfer fees, the shortage of doctors, and other related matters with the relevant departmental secretaries of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. I am hopeful that most of these issues will be resolved soon,” she said.

Nayab also committed to addressing the complaints about civic services and TMA-related issues as quickly as possible.“The deputy commissioner recently instructed tehsil municipal officers to ensure the provision of all necessary civic services within their jurisdictions,” she added.