The tug of war between the provincial health department and police department has badly affected the patients care at Sindh Police Hospital Karachi causing grave inconvenience for patients, PPI learnt through reliable sources on Wednesday.
An administrative official of the Sindh Police Hospital on condition of anonymity told PPI that the hospital administration had been facing acute shortage of specialist doctors, funds, medicines and diagnostic facilities.
However, both the police department and provincial health department have miserably failed to increases the budget of this crucial police hospital and they are also reluctant the fill the vacant posts of consultant doctors despite several requests sent by the hospital administration.
The official said that the hospital urgently required consultant doctors and blood bank in order to provide better health facilities to police officials and their families. He said attendance of patients in the hospital had dropped due to the shortage of doctors and drugs.
“The hospital needs a general surgeon, gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist, pediatrician and other technicians to improve healthcare performance in this 50-bed police treatment facility. The operation theater of the hospital has already been closed down owing to the shortage of surgeons and skilled staff,” he said.
“The home department spends millions of rupees every year on medical treatment of policemen from ‘costly’ private hospitals of Karachi. Millions of rupees per month could be saved if specialist doctors are appointed in the police hospital. However, some vested interests are not in favour of improving healthcare and surgical facilities at the hospital as it would deprive them from hefty commission and kickbacks from private facilities. This conflict of interest is the main reason behind ignoring this hospital and millions of rupees are paid to private hospitals to treat the injured and sick cops and their families,” the sources added.
Medical Superintendent of Sindh Police Hospital Dr Sikander Shah, when contacted, said that a request had already been sent to the inspector general of police and other high ups of department for resolving the hospital’s issues on priority in order to improve patient care.
