Women patients at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), the largest government-run hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are facing serious difficulties due to the absence of a female sonologist, forcing them to undergo ultrasound examinations by male staff and raising concerns over privacy, dignity and basic rights.

LRH receives hundreds of patients daily, a significant number of whom are women. Despite this heavy patient load, the hospital has so far failed to appoint a female sonologist. The issue gained widespread attention a few days ago after a video went viral on social media showing a male sonologist conducting an ultrasound on a female patient, triggering strong reactions and criticism from women.

Female patients say the situation amounts to a violation of their fundamental human rights, as many women hesitate to discuss gynecological and reproductive health issues in front of male doctors or technicians. They argue that, in the absence of a female sonologist at LRH, undergoing ultrasound examinations by male staff has become an unavoidable compulsion rather than a choice.

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Responding to the controversy, LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim Khan said the hospital had advertised the post of female sonologist on three separate occasions, but so far no candidate meeting the required criteria has been found in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that the hospital administration is now considering relaxing the eligibility criteria to make the appointment possible.

It is worth noting that the hospital technician involved in the matter has refused to give any statement or comment on the issue.

Speaking to TNN, Shwana Aslam, head of a welfare organization, said that according to the LRH spokesperson, female sonologists have not been appointed so far because applicants do not meet the required standards. She criticized the broader system, saying women are not encouraged to move forward in science and other technical fields where they can excel.

Shwana Aslam pointed out that opportunities for women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are already limited and that they are rarely given proper encouragement to pursue diverse career paths. She said women are usually confined to professions such as doctors or teachers, while technical fields like radiology and sonology receive little to no encouragement for female participation, resulting in shortages that directly affect women patients.

The ongoing situation at Lady Reading Hospital continues to highlight systemic gaps in healthcare staffing and gender-sensitive medical services, leaving women patients to bear the consequences.