Karachi:Chairman, Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA), Karim Ahmed Khawaja has said that there is actuate shortage of psychiatrists in Sindh province and authorities concern should hire psychiatrists through Sindh Public Services Commission (SPSC) to fill the vacant posts.
Talking to PPI today, Dr Karim Khawaja informed that only 40 psychiatrists are available public and private sector hospitals Sindh while no psychologist is available at government level health facility.
He explained that there was no psychiatrists available in 20 districts of the province out of total 30 districts. He said people suffering from mental problems were facing hardships to get treatment in nearby hospitals due to shortage of psychiatrists in the province.
He demanded of the Sindh government to recruit psychiatrists and psychologists through Sindh Public Services Commission (SPSC) on urgent basis to fill the vacant posts all over the province.
Clinical Psychologist Sidra Ehmer, while talking to PPI, said importance of psychologist was badly ignored in educational institutes, private and public sector hospitals, multinational companies and others department in past.
She said there were no dearth of quality psychologists in Sindh province and provincial government should hire such experts through SPSC to minimize the burden of mental health problems in society.