Waiting for the doctor

Overcrowded wards and shortage of doctors at Pims frustrate patients from far-flung areas.


Sehrish Wasif January 12, 2011

ISLAMABAD: In the midst of the bustling hospital, the eight-month pregnant Razia Bibi waits for a prenatal checkup. She has come all the way from Muzaffarabad and been on standby since 7:45 am. Around 12:30 pm, she still has no clue whether a doctor will tend to her or not.

“It is not easy for me to sit for hours on this wooden bench,” says a weary Razia.

Razia is a prototype patient on a regular day at the General Gynaecology Outpatient Department (OPD) of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Similar incidents have been reported by women visiting from far-flung areas in pursuit of treatment.

Raheela Niaz, from Taxila, airs out similar sentiments.

“I reached here at 8:00 am and since then have been trying to get a medical card issued but the staff simply refuses, saying that they make only 40 cards per day and asking whether I have any strong reference for this,” said Niaz

The general gynaecology OPD is overcrowded, with patients sitting in long queues and waiting for their turn. The majority of them have travelled from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Taxila and Lohi Bher, among others places. The expectant mothers are seen facing discomfort during this long wait. The management, instead of handling such cases with care, seems to be at its wit’s end.

Zobia Khan who came from Bara Kahu for a checkup is snubbed by a staff member and told that the gynaecologist is not around. He blames her for coming too late for the check up. It is 12:10 pm and the OPD time is till 2 pm.

Later, she is told that the doctor may or may not come.

An employee of the same hospital is seen struggling to have his wife checked by a doctor.

“Even being an employee here and carrying the required documents does not help. The system lacks proper management. Doctors are not on their duty and the staff is not entertaining complaints,” he says, wishing to not be named.

He adds that the department is understaffed as the trainees are taking their annual exams and the administration has not made any arrangements to substitute them.

Even essential medicines are not available in the store of the ward and patients are being asked to get them from outside.

Talking to the Express Tribune, Dr Jehanzaib Aurakzai, spokesperson for Pims, says the administration will look into the matter and try to resolve it.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2011.

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