Hospitals in neglect

Sindh's deplorable healthcare continues to degrade, making a mockery of the government's claims of improving public health services. Hospitals across the province, much like those elsewhere in the country, routinely fall short of basic sanitation and hygiene standards. Filthy washrooms, unsafe drinking water, overflowing sewers and poorly maintained wards are symptomatic of an institutional failure that has long persisted due to outright negligence.

Unsanitary hospital environments create conditions conducive to the spread of infections, particularly among patients already weakened by illness. The situation is particularly alarming in Karachi, where complaints about poorly maintained wards, inadequate medical facilities and unsafe drinking water have become commonplace. More disturbing still is the apparent disconnect between public expenditure and the quality of services delivered. Despite substantial allocations to Sindh's health sector, the deterioration of hospital infrastructure and sanitation facilities continues largely unchecked. Sindh allocated approximately Rs393 billion to healthcare for the 2026-27 financial year, yet complaints about elementary facilities persist. This imbalance deserves closer examination. Hospital hygiene is an integral component of clinical care, not a matter of housekeeping. Inadequate sanitation increases the risk of healthcare-associated infections, which can prolong hospitalisation, complicate treatment and place further pressure on already stretched medical resources.

These shortcomings cannot be addressed through occasional inspections or cosmetic improvements. Sindh needs enforceable minimum standards for hospital operations along with independent audits of expenditure and outsourced services. The government must also demonstrate how allocations translate into functioning facilities. Hospital administrations must be required to publish compliance findings and rectify deficiencies within specified periods, with consequences for repeated failures. Above all, hospital performance must be assessed strictly through patient outcomes and service standards.