SH ANGLA: The residents of Shangla have complained about shortage of hepatitis C and other life-saving medicines in the district headquarters hospital, Alpuri.

Talking to reporters here the other day, they said the main health facility in the district had long been facing shortage of vital medicines.

`I have visited the DHQ hospital thrice in as many days seeking hepatitis C medicine but the officials concerned said it wasn`t available and that they had prepared a demand and were in the process of sending it to the authorities, Nazar Khan, a patient from Belkanai area, said. He pointed out that his case seeking hepatitis medicine had been pending with the hospital for the last eight months. He said many other hepatitis patients were also facing the same fate.

Tahirullah, a local, said many hepatitis-related deaths in the district also failed to take up the issue with the health department authorities to provide the required drugs to the hospital.

When contacted, medical superintendent Dr Ihsanullah told Dawn that the hospital had run out of the medicines and that a requirement order had been submitted to the authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, residents of Alpuri and Lelonai staged a demonstration on the SwatBisham road for four hours the other day against the Pakistan Red Crescent Society for refusing to provide an ambulance to take injured persons of a road accident to hospital.

District council member Intikhah Alam led the protesters, who carried placards and banners inscribed slogans against the PRCS.

They were also chanting slogans against the PRCS Shangla secretary. Correspondent