Shortage of insulin, staff leaves diabetes patients struggling

Endocrinology unit with 15 approved beds yet to become functional at Nishtar Hospital

MULTAN:

Patients suffering from diabetes and related complications are facing serious difficulties at Nishtar Hospital due to the absence of dedicated facilities and shortage of essential medicines, according to sources.

Although 15 beds have officially been approved for the endocrinology department, the facility exists only on paper, as there are no separate beds available for patients in reality.

Instead, diabetic patients are being admitted to Ward 11 for treatment.

Sources said that while the 15 beds had been approved earlier, no additional staff was provided to run the endocrinology unit.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, beds allocated for the department in the isolation family ward were withdrawn and have not been restored since.

They added that until 2022, a private charitable hospital organisation had been providing financial support for diabetic patients under an agreement that included the supply of insulin as well as salaries for endocrinology staff.

However, the agreement expired in 2022, and financial support remained suspended until 2024, leaving patients without assistance.

In March 2024, a prominent social figure from Multan reportedly pledged Rs1 million to the Nishtar Medical University administration for the treatment of diabetic patients. According to sources, Rs100,000 was meant for staff salaries and Rs900,000 for insulin and other medicines. However, the endocrinology ward has not received any of the promised funds so far.

During this period, some doctors reportedly continued managing the department on humanitarian grounds with limited assistance from private pharmaceutical companies. Efforts were later made in 2024 to once again seek support from philanthropists to run the endocrinology ward. However, the university administration reportedly directed that, under government policy, private employees or companies cannot intervene in the affairs of public hospitals.

Endocrinology specialists then demanded that the already approved 15 beds be made functional and that the required staff be appointed accordingly, but the matter has yet to be resolved despite repeated requests and reminder letters sent to the Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital.

Sources said the number of diabetes patients visiting the department daily has dropped drastically.