Rawalpindi: Maryam Nawaz Health Center in Chhab, Attock district, is once again without a doctor after the facility's only recently appointed physician went on a week-long leave, raising fresh concerns among local residents about the availability of emergency and basic healthcare services.The doctor, who was appointed after the health center had reportedly remained without a physician for about a month, assumed charge on September 9 but went on leave on October 3, according to sources familiar with the matter.Residents said no replacement doctor was posted during the physician's absence. They questioned why an alternative arrangement was not made at a health facility serving a large rural population, particularly when it provides emergency services.The health center, formerly known as the Rural Health Center (RHC) Chhab, is located in Chhab, a sub-tehsil of Jand in Attock district, Rawalpindi Division.The latest development follows renewed attention to the shortage of doctors at the facility.After reports emerged in September that the health center had remained without a doctor for about a month, residents approached Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the provincial health authorities and the Maryam Nawaz Complaint Cell. The issue was also highlighted in the media.Following the complaints and media coverage, the CEO Health Attock issued a notification on September 4 for the appointment of a doctor at the facility. The doctor joined on September 9, but the health center has again been left without a physician less than a month after the appointment.According to local residents, six doctors' posts are sanctioned at the health center but remain vacant. They said appointing only one doctor had not addressed the underlying shortage and that the facility was again effectively without medical cover.Residents have questioned the decision to allow the only doctor to proceed on leave without arranging a replacement. 'If a health facility has only one doctor, there should be an alternative arrangeme nt when that doctor goes on leave, particularly where emergency care is involved,' one resident said.They also questioned who would be responsible if a patient's condition deteriorated or a serious incident occurred while no doctor was available.The residents called on the Punjab government and the Health Department to fill all sanctioned vacancies and establish a system under which replacement doctors are provided whenever the facility's sole physician is unavailable.'Only one doctor was provided against six sanctioned posts, and now even that doctor is on leave. Where should we go for treatment?' residents asked.The doctor shortage is not the only issue facing the health center. More than Rs30 million has reportedly been spent on the facility's recent upgradation, but residents say the center continues to face infrastructure and operational problems.According to local residents, the facility's transformer is faulty, resulting in single-phase electricity supply. They said an X-ray machine is availa ble at the health center but cannot be used because of the power-related issue.Residents further alleged that the required payment for repair of the transformer has not yet been made to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) by the hospital administration.They called for an immediate demand notice to be submitted to IESCO and for the transformer to be repaired so that the X-ray facility can become operational.A solar power system has also reportedly been installed at the health center, but residents said its connection has not yet been made operational.Residents have also called for the reinstatement of Dr Mansoor, a contractual doctor who, according to them, had served at the health center for around 15 years.His contract has expired and has not been renewed. Residents said his contract should be restored until permanent doctors are appointed.They also demanded that doctors recruited against the local area quota be posted at the Chhab health center so that the vacancies can be filled with doctors serving the area for which they were recruited.Repeated attempts were made to obtain the position of CEO Health Attock Dr Asad on the doctor's leave, the absence of a replacement and the vacant posts. He did not respond to the requests for comment.Residents have urged the Punjab government and the Health Department to intervene immediately, fill the vacant posts and ensure uninterrupted emergency and basic healthcare services at the Maryam Nawaz Health Center Chhab.