Dengue Data Blackout: Hospitals Withholding Crucial Case Info

The health department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is encountering significant obstacles in its fight against dengue, with Medical Teaching Institutions (MTIs) failing to provide essential data on dengue cases. This lack of cooperation directly impedes the department's ability to formulate and implement effective dengue prevention strategies for the provincial capital, Peshawar, which has a history of severe outbreaks.

Dengue infections in the province have now reached 219 cases this week, an increase from the previous week's total of 178. Peshawar alone has recorded 114 cases, with other districts also reporting infections. Experts emphasize that tracking patient data, especially from major MTIs in Peshawar, is critical for timely and targeted preventive actions.

Despite multiple requests and meetings held over the past three months, directors of MTIs have not shared dengue patient data. This situation contrasts with the past, when teaching hospitals operated directly under the health department and responded promptly to public health directives. The implementation of the Medical Teaching Institutions Reforms Act in 2015 has led to MTIs being run by Boards of Governors, diminishing the health department's direct control.

Surveillance teams have been actively working to destroy mosquito larvae across 11 districts, and over 82,000 awareness sessions have been conducted. However, officials stress that obtaining accurate records of cases from MTIs and private hospitals is paramount for developing effective mechanisms to curb the spread of the dengue virus, especially with monsoon rains expected to increase mosquito breeding opportunities.