Bajaur’s sole district healthcare facility, DHQ Hospital Khar, has come under intense public and social criticism following serious allegations of corruption, medicine theft, political interference, and the unchecked influence of a clerical mafia.
The hospital, meant to serve a population of over 1.6 million, is now at the center of growing public frustration, with complaints pouring in from citizens and widespread media coverage highlighting deep-rooted mismanagement.
Local residents claim that government-supplied medicines are being siphoned off and sold in local markets, while patients are falsely told that stocks have run out.
Social activist Gul Zaib Khan described the hospital’s system as a complete failure. He cited a recent bombing incident where the injured were brought in for treatment, only to find the hospital without electricity, despite having its own feeder, solar system, and backup generator.
Further fueling the controversy is the repeated appointment of former Medical Superintendent Dr. Wazir Khan Safi, which many locals see as politically motivated. Allegations of favoritism and backdoor deals have been leveled against him. Dr. Safi, however, denies all accusations, stating that his appointments have followed departmental protocols.
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Several clerks at the hospital are also under fire for overstaying their postings despite official transfers. They are accused of abusing their authority and making administrative decisions under political pressure.
District leaders from political parties have joined the chorus of criticism. Gul Afzal of the Awami National Party and Muhammad Younas Musafir Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami have both called for an independent inquiry into the hospital’s financial and administrative affairs, asserting that depriving the public of basic healthcare services is unacceptable.
In response to the mounting criticism, the hospital administration has denied the allegations, arguing that medicine distribution is carried out according to quotas issued by the health department, and that resource constraints are affecting the hospital’s performance.
Civic activists, concerned citizens, and political parties have jointly demanded transparency in hospital management, enforcement of clerk transfers, public access to medicine supply records, and removal of political interference from hospital affairs.
Once envisioned as a vital center for public healthcare, DHQ Hospital Khar now stands as a symbol of misgovernance. It is no longer enough to issue mere denials, impartial investigations are urgently needed to expose those responsible and restore public trust. Only then can this institution fulfill its intended role as a truly functional medical facility.
