Over 400 employees at Sindh Govt Children's Hospital unpaid for 4 months

Staff members threaten protests if salaries not paid by August

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KARACHI:

Over 400 employees at the Sindh Government Children’s Hospital in Karachi, operated under a public-private partnership, have reportedly gone unpaid for the past four months. Staff members have warned the administration that if their salaries are not disbursed by August, they will launch protest demonstrations.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, hospital administrators confirmed the delay in salary payments. They assured that pending dues would be cleared next month, adding that the hospital’s budget is currently in process and expected to be released within the coming week.

The Sindh Government Children’s Hospital was inaugurated in 2004 by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Initially managed by the provincial health department, the hospital began as a 50-bed facility built on 16 acres of land. Despite its promising start, the hospital has long struggled with poor infrastructure, limited services, and frequent staff protests.

In 2013, a new building was constructed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), making it a unique facility among pediatric hospitals in the city. At the time, the provincial government allocated Rs100 million annually, allowing the hospital to offer extended services into the night.

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However, in October 2016, management of the hospital was handed over to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) under a public-private partnership agreement. The annual budget was subsequently increased to Rs440 million. According to the health department, the hospital will continue to operate under this arrangement until October 2026, after which its future will be reviewed.

Since the transition to private management, the hospital has faced repeated delays in salary disbursements, leading to at least ten staff strikes and multiple temporary shutdowns. Between 2004 and 2025, the hospital has failed to conduct any major pediatric surgeries and primarily treats common childhood illnesses.

Currently, over 300 staff members work under the NGO, while 65 employees—including the Medical Superintendent—remain under the provincial health department’s jurisdiction.

Rabia, a parent visiting the facility, told reporters that children with complex medical conditions are routinely referred to the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) or Civil Hospital, as the Children’s Hospital lacks the surgical infrastructure to treat complicated pediatric cases.