LARKANA: Poor patients continue to suffer very badly due to lack of proper treatment facilities at the largest teaching hospital of rural Sindh known as Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, due to shortage of junior and senior doctors because even sanctioned posts have not yet been filled by the government.
According to details obtained by PPI on Tuesday, out of 584 sanctioned posts of doctors from BPS-17 to 20 as many as 203 posts are still lying vacant and 381 are filled in the CMCH which means 35% posts are lying vacant. The daily CMCH OPD has over 2,500 patients only in the morning shift alone and then patients rush is dealt with at the Emergency Department in evening and night shifts.
The vacant gazetted posts of BPS-17 to 20 of doctors include the Medical Superintendent (BPS-20), chief superintendent, dental surgeon, chief medical officer (TB), senior pathologist, all nine posts of registrars of Shaikh Zayed Women Hospital are vacant, three posts of RMO and seven staff nurses.
11 posts are vacant out of 12 sanctioned post of anesthetists, each of BPS-18, two posts of ophthalmologist, nephrologist, surgical specialist, 32 posts of senior registrar, eight posts of nursing superintendent, senior CMOs, senior MOs (18 vacant out of 63 sanctioned), all 17 posts of senior MOs (male and female) are vacant, all 25 posts of senior registrars are vacant, all four posts of medico-legal officers (BPS-17) are vacant and out of 214 sanctioned posts of medical officers (M/F) 194 are filled and 20 are still vacant, each of BPS-17.
Other vacant posts include 50 posts of pharmacists, physiotherapists, planning officer, BioMedical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Dietician. Laboratory Technologists, Accounts Officer, Statistical Officer, Administrative Officer, Superintendent and Senior Nurses, all of BPS-17 are vacant since long out of 61 sanctioned posts. 117 sanctioned posts of BPS-16 are also lying vacant out of 212 which include administrative officers, assistants, bio-technologist, medical technologist, staff nurses (99 posts vacant out of 190 sanctioned), programmer and stenographer.
Retired CMCH Medical Superintendent Dr. Munir Ahmed Jokhio when contacted said that shortage of doctors, paramedics and other staff will continue to multiply the issues of the hospital which will never bring improvement. He said according to his information many doctors and other staff are also on visa or irregular which too has created problems for the smooth running of the hospital. He said mismanagement is also rampant which also needs to be curbed on an emergency basis and patient service and safety should be the priority instead of utilizing the budget.
Retired CMCH MS Dr Ghulam Murtaza Soomro, who also remained Director, Health Services, Larkana Region, said that political interference must be stopped in the affairs of the hospital which has virtually ruined it. He said doctors are mercilessly beaten but district administration has failed to help them or to provide them security so that they could discharge their duties efficiently.
He said it seems that young doctors have become heart-broken now due to frequent physical violence and assault against them which should be handled quickly by the government adding health professionals must be provided proper security so that they could be able to regain their power.
He said unionism has also created problems which should be banned in the hospitals and all must work for the betterment of needy patients. He said drastic actions are needed to bring to end mismanagement and establish writ of the law in the CMCH affairs.