Hospitals short of staff

KARACHI:

The city’s government hospitals and health centres are facing severe shortage of medical staf ffor the last 12 years, leaving thousands of patients without adequate medical care. The situation is critical, with numerous positions remaining vacant in major hospitals.

The numbers are staggering, with Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) having over 2,500 vacant positions, while Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), officially known as Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, has 874 empty slots.

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) is also struggling, with 948 vacant positions, and Liaquatabad Hospital has 104 positions that need to be filled.

This staffing crisis can be traced back to the last recruitment drive, which occurred in 2012. However, some hospitals have begun to recruit doctors, paramedics, and other staff on a contract basis as needed, while hundreds of vacancies also remain in District Health Units (DHUs).

JPMC spokesperson Jahangir Durrani mentioned that the hospital would soon commence the recruitment process by publishing advertisements in newspapers.

He reported that there are 500 vacant positions for doctors in grade 17, besides vacant positions for paramedics, OT technicians, nursing staff, and biomedical technicians in the emergency department and various operating theatres.

Executive Director, Professor Shahid Rasool, has written to Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, seeking permission to recruit staff in phases.

Authorities at CHK reported that the hospital receives around 6,000 to 7,000 patients daily in its outpatient department (OPD) and performs numerous surgeries each day. However, the hospital is facing serious shortage of staff.

Meanwhile, the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Liaquatabad Hospital, Dr Atiq Qureshi, revealed that out of 208 approved posts for doctors in various departments, 104 positions-including 48 doctors-are currently vacant across different areas, including nursing, paramedical, and OTs. Dr Agha Aamir, Medical Superintendent (MS) of Saudabad Hospital, noted that 10% of the positions in the hospital are vacant. Interviews for grade 1 to 4 positions are currently being conducted at the Director General Health’s office.

Dr. Sabir Memon, the Director of the Trauma Centre stated that recruitments in the hospital are being made on a contract basis as needed.

The authorities at ASH stated that the facility has a total of 2,098 approved positions, of which 1,150 are currently filled.