Sindh's largest teaching hospital faces acute shortage of staff  

KARACHI:  Sindh’ largest tertiary care institution , known as, Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK)  has been facing acute shortage of doctors and other support staff since several years. 

There are 3,000 sanctioned posts in more than 1700 bedded CHK out of which 800 posts are lying vacant including doctors, nurses, paramedics, support staff and administrative staff. The shortage of staff has badly affected the performance of this healthcare facility.    

Around 100 posts of doctors, 150 posts of staff nurses, 150 posts  of paramedical staff, 05 posts in grade-15, 100 posts of sweepers and others administrative seats have been lying vacant in this teaching hospital since last several years.   

Similarly, about 400 posts of non-technical and support staff from grade-1 to grade-14 are lying vacant since several years various sections including hospitality services, kitchen, transport, general store, laundry, workshop, electrical, mechanical, ward boy, wooden, security, ministerial staff, ancillary staff, telephone exchange etc.  

The hospital administration has also urgently needed nurses, paramedics, and doctors who could check the patients with the emergency requirement. The number of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) has increased in the hospital with the passage of time and the administration needs skilled staff nurses and paramedical staff to attend such patients.            

The number of patients has also been increased from 8,000 to 9,000 in OPDs while 1,000 patients are brought to Accident & Emergency Department every day, over 150 women visit Gynecology units for deliveries, 500 children attend the Pediatric OPD. The large number of diagnostic tests are being performed in the institution free of cost on daily basis at the state-of-the-art laboratory.         

 The authorities concerned of Sindh health department Sindh have not been paying heed towards shortage of staff in public sector hospitals like Civil Hospital where doctors, nurses and support staff are performing their duties under extreme pressure and extra burden of work that leads them towards various behavioral issues.   

The unavailability of doctors, medicines, and diagnostic facilities as well as shortage of staff in major hospitals of Karachi, including Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital and other districts hospitals, have also doubled the patients’ turnout in this teaching hospital.  

 Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr Rubina Bashir was not available for comments.