Heatwave overwhelms healthcare system
Severe heat and unusually high temperatures in Karachi are taking a heavy toll on ordinary citizens, leaving many struggling to cope. However, the Health Department and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) have not put sufficient public protection measures in place.
Recently, Karachi experienced an intense heatwave with temperatures reaching around 42-44 degrees Celsius, making it one of the hottest days in recent years. Amid the extreme conditions, at least eight to ten people died, with reports indicating that most deaths were linked to heatstroke and dehydration.
Due to damaged roads and severe traffic jams, even a 15-minute trip has become long and exhausting. People traveling in buses and vans are facing extreme hardship in the intense heat. The city does not have any heat shelters to provide relief while ongoing road excavation work has further aggravated travel conditions in the scorching weather.
Currently, hundreds of heat-affected patients are being reported in both government and private hospitals across Karachi. Alongside the rise in heat-related cases, there has also been an increase in patients suffering from diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and complications among the elderly. Welfare organizations have additionally rescued drug users found in critical condition along roadsides.
A heatstroke patient, Ashfaq, revealed that he sells vegetables on a roadside cart. Due to heat exposure, he experienced dizziness and lost mental balance. People took him to the Civil Hospital, where he received drips and treatment before being discharged.
According to the in-charge of the emergency department at Civil Hospital Karachi, dozens of heat-stroke patients are being brought in daily. At Jinnah Hospital, 80 to 90 patients report daily for treatment. Similar situations are seen at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Sindh Government Qatar Hospital, Liaquatabad Hospital, Malir Saudabad Hospital, and Korangi Hospital, where dozens of patients arrive daily.
Officials at Jinnah Hospital said that dozens of patients from different areas are being treated daily due to the heatwave. Civil Hospital emergency in-charge Dr Imran stated that more than 100 patients suffering from dehydration, salt deficiency, and diarrhea are arriving in the emergency and OPD every 24 hours.
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital administration reported that dozens of men, women, and children are being brought in due to heat exhaustion. Ibrahim Hyderi Hospital receives 50 to 60 patients daily. New Karachi Hospital reports 70 to 80 heat-affected patients per day. Orangi Town Qatar Hospital is also treating dozens of patients exposed to intense sunlight. Liaquatabad Hospital is receiving over two dozen cases daily, while Saudabad Hospital reports 25 to 30 patients daily.
Private hospitals are also receiving a large number of heat-affected patients, but no official data is being released at the government level.
Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Khalid Bukhari stated that the weather in Karachi has become more severe. "People should avoid going out between 11am and 6pm. If necessary, people should carry water bottles and wet cloths for protection. Symptoms of heat stroke include dizziness, nausea, and extreme weakness. Patients should immediately be moved to a cool place and given water or home-made drinks. Lemon water and light meals, especially yogurt, are recommended," said Dr Bukhari.
Public health expert Dr Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani explained that excessive sweating leads to loss of salts in the body, causing severe imbalance in bodily functions. "Patients should be treated with cold water, IV drips, and fluids. Colourful bottled drinks sold in suburban areas often contain bacteria due to heat exposure, leading to diarrhea and cholera," he said.