Govt hospital suffers neglect

The performance of provincial health department can be gauged from the fact that a lithotripsy machine, purchased 15 years ago for the hospital, became unusable without ever being used. The machine is used to break kidney stones through radiation.

The health department officials bought the machine but never appointed trained staff to operate it, rendering it useless, officials said.

According to details, Sindh Government Liaquatabad Hospital located in the Central District, which serves a population of 4.5 million, is the only hospital designated as a trauma center for treating the public and victims of traffic accidents. However, due to the negligence of senior health department officials, the hospital could not be developed into a trauma center.

As per The Express Tribune reports, the hospital was established to serve residents of areas such as Teen Hatti, Al-Asif Square, Nazimabad, and Hayderi. Sindh government allocates only Rs47.5 million annually for the hospital, which caters to a population of 4.5 million in Central District. The hospital has only 200 beds allocated for patients. In the hospital's outpatient department (OPD), between 3,500 to 4,000 patients report daily.

Upon reviewing the budget allocated for medicines for admitted patients, medical tests, and medicines and other facilities provided to OPD patients, it was revealed that the Sindh government allocates only Rs0.41 per patient every three months, based on the budget provided to the hospital.

If the hospital's budget is divided among the population of District Central, it becomes almost negligible. However, Sindh government gives the impression that provincial government is providing millions of rupees for the hospital, while the reality is quite the opposite.

The budget for Sindh Government Liaquatabad Hospital and other hospitals is disbursed in quarterly installments. These hospitals are funded through public tax revenues, yet the Sindh government presents it as though the provincial government is generously providing this substantial amount

According to a report by Express Tribune, Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad is provided with Rs11.7 million every three months for medicines and public health care, while the population of District Central is 4.5 million. The hospital's emergency department consists of only 8 beds, while 1500 patients are reported daily in the emergency department.

Some departments of hospital do not have consultants and professors appointed. In 2009, a decision was made to establish a trauma center in the hospital, but it has not been implemented to date. A separate building was constructed to established a trauma center, but instead of a trauma center, a nursing school was established on one floor, a paramedical school and midwifery school on another floor, and the hospital administration offices were set up, but the trauma center could not be established.

The hospital has a cardiac unit, dental unit, burns center, orthopedic unit, and other units, but due to the lack of trained staff, patients suffering from these diseases are referred to Civil or Jinnah Hospital. The hospital also lacks medico-legal department and post-mortem facilities.

In this regard, The Express Tribune contacted the hospital's Medical Superintendent, Dr. Atiq Qureshi, who said that 100,000 patients visit various OPDs in the hospital every month. The hospital has complete facilities for the treatment of gynecological and other diseases. The hospital's budget is insufficient considering the number of patients coming to the hospital. He said that recently, two operation theaters of the hospital, which has been closed for the past 5 years, have been fully activated. He said that a lithotripsy machine was purchased 15 years ago, but the staff to operate the machine has not been appointed yet, and the machine has become faulty. However, gallbladder surgery has been started using a laparoscopy machine in the hospital. He said that the hospital is facing a shortage of doctors and other staff.