Doctor vacancy leaves Rawalpindi district courts dispensary non-functional

RAWALPINDI: The government dispensary at the Rawalpindi District Courts has effectively stopped functioning after authorities failed to appoint a doctor for more than a month, leaving judges, lawyers, court employees and litigants without access to basic medical care.

The dispensary is the only primary healthcare facility inside the judicial complex and usually caters to hundreds of people each day, providing minor treatment, preliminary check-ups and emergency first aid. With the doctor’s post lying vacant for nearly four weeks, patients have been unable to receive proper examinations or treatment.

Members of the legal fraternity and litigants said medical emergencies often occur during lengthy and demanding court proceedings. In the absence of an on-site physician, people needing care are being forced to turn to private clinics or hospitals located farther away. They said this causes critical delays in emergencies and also places an added financial burden on those affected.

The situation has become more serious amid intense summer heat and a seasonal rise in illnesses, increasing the need for medical assistance at the courts. Lawyers and litigants described the absence of even basic healthcare at such an important public institution as a sign of administrative failure.

Demand for urgent intervention

They have called for the permanent posting of a doctor at the dispensary, along with a dependable supply of medicines and essential medical equipment. Bar representatives and litigants’ leaders have also appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the provincial health minister, the health secretary and other relevant authorities to intervene without delay.