Urgent Need for a Hospital and Ambulance Service in Shapuk, District Kech

By Asma Qayyum

I would like to draw the attention of the health authorities and the Government of Balochistan to the severe healthcare crisis faced by the residents of Shapuk, a rural village in District Kech.

At present, Shapuk has no healthcare infrastructure. There is no hospital, Basic Health Unit (BHU), clinic or even a single doctor available to serve the local population.

For even minor illnesses routine check-ups  or medical consultations, residents are forced to travel nearly 34 kilometers to Turbat. This not only causes inconvenience but also places an unnecessary financial burden on families.

The situation becomes even more alarming during medical emergencies. Shapuk has no ambulance service leaving critically ill patients without immediate medical assistance.

In cases of childbirth complications serious accidents heart attacks or other life threatening conditions patients must wait for expensive private transport. Many lives are put at risk or even lost during the long and painful journey to Turbat.

Pregnant women in particular face immense danger when timely medical care is unavailable.

Access to basic healthcare is a fundamental human right yet the people of Shapuk remain deprived of this essential service. According to regional healthcare assessments by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund and district development profiles Kech has long suffered from a shortage of healthcare facilities and medical professionals.

It is encouraging that the Balochistan Government’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has allocated funds for infrastructure projects such as the Construction of the Shapuk External Road. However while roads are being developed healthcare remains neglected. Roads alone cannot save lives if there are no nearby medical facilities to serve the people.

I respectfully urge the Balochistan Health Department the Deputy Commissioner of Kech, and the elected representatives of the area to take immediate action.

The government should establish at least a fully equipped Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Shapuk appoint qualified doctors and medical staff provide essential medicines and station an emergency ambulance to ensure timely medical care for residents.

Healthcare is not a privilege it is a basic right. The people of Shapuk deserve access to safe timely and quality medical services. Immediate action today can save countless lives tomorrow.