GHAZNI CITY - Health centres have either been closed or lack doctors and medicines in various districts of southern Ghazni province, residents complain.
A resident of Giru district, Naqibullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News the health clinic in their district had long been closed for unknown reasons.  “We take emergency patients to nearby Andar district or the provincial capital.”
He said many serious patients often died due to the lack of health facilities, saying two women had recently died on the way to hospital.
A resident of Gilan district, Mohammad Sadiq, said there was only one doctor at the district clinic.
“The district is situated along the Kabul-Kandahar highway, therefore many patients, including people injured in accidents on the highway, are brought to this clinic, but the only doctor cannot handle all.”
The resident said mothers usually gave birth to children at home or had to travel for three hours to reach Ghazni City.
A resident of Qarah Bagh district, Rahmatullah, alleged expired medicines were given to patients at the district health centre, which lacked enough doctors.
A resident of Maqur district, Ahmad Shah, told Pajhwok Afghan News that doctors at the clinic encouraged patients to visit them at their private clinics against fee.
“When you visit the clinic, the doctors will tell you to bring the medicine from outside or visit them at their private clinics.”
Residents of the mentioned and other districts urged the authorities concerned to address their problems at the earliest.
Provincial public health director Zahir Shah Nekmal acknowledged there were problems in some district health centres.
He said health clinics in Giru and Ab Band districts had been closed to due the lack of buildings for the facilities.
Nekmal confirmed some doctors invited patients to visit them at their private clinics, something he was injustice with the ailing people.
“But in some cases our people expect they can undergo big operations in district clinics, which is not possible because everything is done within the limits of resources.”
The director rejected claims that there was a shortage of doctors in districts, saying the issue was only  related to lady doctors.
He said health related issues in Ghazni had been discussed with the Ministry of Public Health officials, who had assured their solution.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the rebels created no problems to clinic facilities. (Pajhwok)