KARACHI:Scores of patients seeking consultation and medical intervention had to return home in sheer disappointment when they visited Sindh Government Children Hospital North Nazimabad on Monday as healthcare professionals continued the boycott of OPDs and emergency services for release of the hospital budget.
The protesters, including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, were carrying placards and banners inscribed with different slogans like stop injustice with medical staff, pay four months salaries and others.
The protesters said around 400 employees working under Poverty Eradication Initiative had been deprived of salaries for four months by the hospital administration. The Sindh government has not released last quarter fund of fiscal year 2019-20 which has created fund problem and PEI administration is unable to pay salaries of staff.
The hospital management has also closed emergency services, pediatric nursery and provision of drugs due to unavailability of funds. The parents of poor patients are being referred to private and public sector hospitals over closure of services.