Second-hand medical gear raises alarm in city hospitals

Experts warn donated equipment may pose risks amid lack of quality checks and oversight

KARACHI:

Used medical equipment from abroad donated to public hospitals under the guise of philanthropy is endangering patient safety, medical experts have warned, as an NGO running a major children's hospital under a public-private partnership continues to distribute second-hand beds, monitors and surgical supplies across the city - often without any government oversight.

The organisation, which took over the Sindh Government Children's Hospital in 2016 under a decade-long agreement set to expire in September 2026, has been importing used medical gear from foreign hospitals and channelling it as "donations" to several teaching hospitals in Karachi.

On June 20, the Civil Hospital received a consignment of used gloves, monitors and beds. A day later, the JPMC got similar supplies, including 50 beds and ICU equipment.

But health professionals are raising red flags. "Used equipment - especially beds and monitors that have already been in contact with multiple patients - cannot be certified safe for reuse," a senior physician told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.

"In Sindh, no official quality control or medical scrutiny has been conducted on these imports. This is a ticking time bomb for patient safety."

Equally alarming, sources confirmed that no representative from the Sindh Health Department or the provincial government was present at either donation ceremony.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, who addressed the gathering at JPMC, defended the move, acknowledging the equipment was indeed second-hand.

"It is now up to the hospital administration to decide. If the equipment is fit for use, they may keep it. If not, they can return it to the NGO," he told The Express Tribune in response to a question.

He also touched upon the province's stalled health insurance scheme, saying a draft had been prepared but was stuck due to technical delays. "Our aim is to maximise health facilities across the country," he added.

The event was attended by JPMC's Executive Director Prof Khalid Sher, Joint Directors Dr Muhammad Sulaiman and Dr Nausheen, Deputy Director Dr Saddam, and Dr Waqas Khan, among others.

The same NGO has been running Sindh Government Children's Hospital since 2016, with an annual budget of Rs440 million from the provincial government - a sharp jump from the Rs. 100 million allocated before the partnership.

Despite the increased funding, the hospital is plagued by chronic medicine shortages, and sources say it becomes virtually non-functional after evening hours. Employees have staged repeated protests, with salaries often delayed by up to six months.

With the partnership set to end in September 2026, questions are mounting over whether the NGO's operations have done more harm than good - and who, if anyone, is watching the watchmen.