The Sindh Institute of Skin Diseases Karachi offering free of cost treatment to people has been all but closed due to a deadlock between the Sindh government and the Grand Health Alliance (GHA), which has been on strike for almost a month.
GHA members have been staging a sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club for the past 30 days to push the Sindh Health Department on their demands which include a health risk allowance, time scale promotion, and service structure.
The GHA, which claims to be a representative body of medics and paramedics of Sindh, has also been observing a partial boycott at hospitals.
Due to their strike, patients coming from far-off areas have to wait for hours at the entrance to the Sindh Institute of Skin Diseases in Saddar.
It is the sole public sector hospital in the metropolis offering free diagnosis, treatment and medicines for skin diseases.
Banners hung inside and outside the hospital have three GHA demands written on it.
A few days back, a patient got into a heated argument with the hospital administration over the GHA strike, according to sources.
The hospital director reported the incident to the SHO of local police station, they added.
Since then, an ASI and a constable have been deputed to disperse patients from the hospital gate in the name of security.
Taking advantage of the situation, medical stories in the vicinity of the hospital have assumed the role of doctors as they prescribe and sell medicines to patients without any fear, according to sources.
“It is the only government hospital in Pakistan where people from Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa get free treatment for skin diseases,” Dr Ruby Qureshi, Director of Sindh Institute of Skin Diseases, told The Express Tribune.
“Between 3,500 and 4,500 patients visit our OPDs every day.
Moreover, we also have admission facilities for 50 patients at a time,” Dr Ruby said.
“Our hospital has been offering services despite the GHA strike.” According to Dr Ruby, 65 doctors, more or less same number of paramedics and 10 nurses work at the hospital.
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