Beds increased to 250 in Boost Hospital

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Healthcare provision at Boost Hospital, one of only two functioning referral hospitals in south Afghanistan, has improved after being equipped with additional beds, officials said on Wednesday.

The hospital in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, serves Helmand’s roughly one million inhabitants which are among those most affected by the ongoing conflict.

Boost Hospital Director Dr. Nisar Ahmad Barak told Pajhwok Afghan News the number of beds had been increased from 150 to 250.

About 200 patients at the emergency room and 35 at the maternity received treatment with support from Doctors Without Borders organisation, he added.

He said previously most patients would travel to Pakistan from Helmand for treatment due to a shortage of beds in the hospital.

“Our services have improved and comparable with those provided in neighbouring countries. We have local and foreign specialist doctors and high quality medicines are imported from Germany,” he said.

A resident of Marja district, Mohammad Isa, who had brought his brother for treatment to the hospital, said healthcare facilities at the Boost Hospital had improved.

However, he complained family members were not allowed to stay with their patients in the hospital.

A resident of Greshk district, Mullah Mohammad Qasim, said his minor son was being treated free of charge at the Boost Hospital.

mds/ma

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