Public hospitals
Commenting on the insufficient services being provided at government hospitals in Punjab, the provincial health minister says she will take effective steps to improve treatment facilities at these hospitals. However, had the minister undertaken surprise inspections of hospitals, the quality of services at the infirmaries would have improved considerably and she would not need to make the promise.
Specialist physicians and surgeons, reportedly, don’t turn up at hospitals and there are complaints of late arrival of other doctors too. In order to ensure punctual presence of doctors, nurses and paramedics, the government tried to introduce the biometric system of attendance at hospitals but the proposal met with stiff resistance from healthcare providers. Hence the government’s move was scuttled. Specialist doctors are seldom available in out-patients and emergency departments. Resultantly, patients, who cannot afford to consult private medical specialists due to their high fees, are denied access to specialist care and advice.
In the absence of specialist and senior doctors from OPDs and emergency departments, it is left to doctors doing house jobs and junior doctors to attend to patients in intensive care units, OPDs and emergency departments. Sometimes they receive instructions from seniors and specialists over the phone. Most government hospitals lack specialists for treatment of all diseases, so when some patients develop complications, they are sent to other hospitals where specialist doctors and state-of-the-art equipment are available. Specialists and state-of-the-art facilities are available only at two public hospitals — Jinnah and Mayo hospitals — in Lahore. Those in need of consulting specialist doctors at government hospitals claim that only well-connected patients are allowed access to specialists; others are referred to private consultants.
Pakistan has a shortage of doctors, dentists and nurses. Moreover, instead of increasing the health budget, the government has only reduced it over the years.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2021.
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