News Desk
QUETTA: The Supreme Court Quetta Registry has expressed concern over the poor functioning of Rural Health Units (RHUs) in Balochistan, questioning how residents of remote areas can access basic medical treatment when healthcare centres remain closed.
The remarks came during the hearing of a case concerning the absence of a female doctor at a Rural Health Unit. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail questioned the availability of healthcare facilities for people living in far-flung areas of the province.
“Rural health units are lying closed. Where will sick people go?” Justice Mandokhail remarked during the proceedings.
The judge pointed out that for many people living in rural areas, the nearest tehsil or district hospital is 80 to 90 kilometres away. He observed that the long distance makes it particularly difficult for patients to reach hospitals in time, especially in emergencies.
Justice Mandokhail also highlighted the financial challenges faced by hospitals, saying that a lack of funds has added to the pressure on existing healthcare facilities. With rural health units not functioning properly, the patient load on larger hospitals is also increasing.
The judge stressed that healthcare should be treated as a serious matter and called for practical steps to improve medical services in rural areas.
Advocate General Balochistan Abdul Latif Kakar appeared before the court and informed the bench that the provincial government has developed a policy aimed at improving the condition of health units.
He said the government is working to make Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Units (RHUs) functional and improve healthcare services in rural communities.
The Supreme Court’s observations have once again drawn attention to the difficulties faced by people in remote parts of Balochistan, where access to doctors, medicines and functional healthcare centres remains a major challenge.
For residents living dozens of kilometres away from major hospitals, ensuring that local Rural Health Units remain open and properly staffed could make a significant difference in receiving timely medical care.
