PIMS faces shortage of doctors, nurses

Patient-load doubles amidst flood of dengue virus patients

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) is facing a severe shortage of doctors, nurses and other technical staff amidst the onslaught of dengue virus patients and rising patient-load on the largest government hospital.

Due to the non-recruitment against the vacant 796 positions, not only the existing staff including doctors were facing problems tending to patients but it was also taking a toll on the rising number of patients, who have started to flock to the hospital after the new metro bus service was extended to rural areas and suburbs of the federal capital.

A large number of people, who otherwise used to visit their nearest health facilities in rural areas, have started to show up at the PIMS hospital after the start of the metro bus service between the hospital and rural areas including Bhara Kahu and Rawat.

According to sources, specialist doctors have to cut short their OPDs to tend to patients in the emergency, which caters to 2,500 to 3,000 patients daily.

The sources said that a plan to start the evening OPD has also been put in cold storage owing to the ban on new hiring.

According to available documents, at present, 253 posts of doctors in various departments, 56 posts of nurses and 48 posts of paramedical staff and 245 posts of lower staff including lab technicians, attendants and office boys were lying vacant at the PIMS hospital.

PIMS administration officials said that if the required numbers of doctors and nurses were made available, they would start the evening OPD in the hospital.

The sources said that patients visiting the hospitals were facing immense difficulties and patients with serious ailments had to wait for days to get themselves checked by specialist doctors.

According to the sources, despite the increase in the number of patients, the posts of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of PIMS Hospital have not been increased.

The daily number of patients visiting OPDs of different departments of PIMS hospital has exceeded 5,000. Around 100 operations were carried out in different wards daily.

The sources said that between 150 and 180 patients visit the hospital daily for minor operations (bandages, stitches, etc) at the PIMS hospital.

Considering the rush of patients, the hospital administration had planned to start the evening OPD, however, it could not be started owing to the ban on new recruitment by the finance division.

An official of the PIMS administration said that doctors needed to tend to patients with peace of mind for better treatment, but it was not possible at the largest public sector hospital because of the heavy patient-load.

PIMS Hospital Director Dr Khalid Masood confirmed that the hospital was facing a shortage of staff and doctors. He, however, said that they were trying their best to provide better facilities to patients with the available staff and resources.

Regarding the new recruitments, Dr Khalid said that owing to a ban on new hiring, new doctors and other staff could not be hired.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2022.