KARACHI:Sindh’ largest tertiary care hospital, Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), has been facing an acute shortage of doctors and other supporting staff since several years, which has badly affected the functioning of this major hospital of the province, sources at CHK told PPI on Sunday.
According to the sources, there are 3,000 sanctioned posts in more than 1700 bedded CHK out of which 900 are lying vacant including doctors, nurses, paramedics, support staff and administrative staff.
Around 100 posts of doctors, 150 of staff nurses, 150 of paramedical staff, five of grade-15, 100 of sweepers and other administrative seats have been lying vacant in this teaching hospital since last several years. Similarly, about 400 posts of non-technical and supporting staff from grade-1 to grade-14 are lying vacant since several years in various sections including hospitality services, kitchen, transport, general store, laundry, workshop, electrical, mechanical, ward boy, wooden, security, ministerial staff, ancillary staff, telephone exchange etc.
The hospital administration also urgently need nurses, paramedics and doctors who could check the patients with emergency requirement. The number of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has been increased in the hospital with the passage of time and the administration needs skilled staff nurses and paramedical staff to attend such patients.
The number of patients has also been increased from 7,000 to 8,000 in OPDs while 900 to 1,000 patients are brought to Accident and Emergency Department every day, while over 150 women visit gynecology units, and 500 children attend Pediatric OPD. The big number of diagnostic tests are being performed in the institution free of cost on daily basis at the state-of-the-art laboratory.
The authorities concerned of Sindh health department has not been paying any heed towards shortage of staff in public sector hospitals, like Civil Hospital, where doctors, nurses and support staff are performing their duties under extreme pressure and extra burden of work that leads them towards various behavioral issues.
The unavailability of doctors, medicines, diagnostic facilities and shortage of staff in major hospitals of Karachi, including Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital and other districts hospitals, have also doubled the patients’ turnout in this teaching hospital.
Additional Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr Ismail Memon, was not available for comments.