Shortage of Doctors and staff at Burns Center-CHK

KARACHI- The Burns Center at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), is facing acute shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, since the last six months, putting dozens of patients’ lives on stake.  

An official of Burns Center, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), on condition of anonymity said; There is an acute shortage of doctors, nurses and para-medical staff, since last six months and the shortage has badly affected the routine operational work in Sindh’s sole center for burn injuries treatment. He explained that; although doctors and other staff were available in the morning shift, but there are no specialist doctors and skilled staff available in evening and night shifts.

He said; Burns Center administration had transferred almost two dozen employees from Burns Center to the Civil Hospital Karachi, about six months ago, because of their involvement in political activities. One hundred other contract employees were also fired from their jobs, over different allegations by the administration.  He said; Half of these posts were re-filled on contract basis, through a private recruiting company, while rest of the posts are still vacant for the last six months.

The official said; There was no doctor available in the male ward in night shift, while a doctor performs duty in the night shift in pediatrics ward, who discharges the duty under a rotation policy. He said; There is a capacity of 70-beds in the hospital for burns patients, but due to shortage of staff, the patients have to wait for several hours for dressing and get medicines.

The administration has miserably failed to fill the shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedics despite the passage of six months and patients are left at the mercy of paramedics, especially in the evening and night shifts. He said; although doctors were available in the Intensive Care Unit of the center during night shift, but only two paramedics are available in the paeds ward at night, for 10 to 15 children.

Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Karachi, Prof M Saeed Qureshi said doctors are available in Burns Center at night shift and the administration recently posted a new doctor in the hospital. He said reasonable number of nurses and paramedical staff are also available in center and there is no major staff crisis in Burns Center.