Improving healthcare

The Sindh government is laying more emphasis on the prevention side in the fight against the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. But, at the same time, it is leaving nothing to chance to face situations arising from both natural causes and our people’s disregard for regulations put in place to prevent the spread of the contagion. It is in line with this two-pronged strategy that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced the release of Rs2.7 billion for improvement of the province’s health infrastructure in view of the pandemic. The funds will be used for upgrading the capacity and facilities at 21 government hospitals in the province. Two new hospitals under construction in Karachi — a 50-bed hospital in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and a 200-bed infectious diseases hospital at NIPA — are to be completed by June.

The capacity of intensive care units (ICUs), high dependency units (HDUs), and isolation wards will be expanded at 21 hospitals across the province. More ventilators, medical and surgical equipment and machines will be provided at all the hospitals and where oxygen supply will also be enhanced. So far ICUs with 131 additional beds and HDUs with 174 additional beds have been established at 10 hospitals in Karachi. Fortunately, of these, 61 ICU beds and nine HDU beds are lying vacant. To be well prepared should the coronavirus situation deteriorate is a good strategy.

The Sindh government has been taking sensible measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It was the first to impose a lockdown in the province. It relaxed the curbs on physical movement to enable people to do Eid shopping. The government cannot be held responsible for people violating the standard operating procedures and exposing themselves to dangers.

We welcome the Sindh government’s decision to earmark a considerable amount to expand and improve healthcare facilities in the province. Over the years, the provincial government has claimed to have spent billions on the health sector, but it is difficult to say whether all this money has been utilised properly. There are doubts about the government’s claim of food ration distribution during the holy month of Ramazan. Governments cannot get away simply by saying they helped people without disclosing their identity. Proper audit of funds should be ensured.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2020.

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