Karachi:
Doctors have expressed serious concerns about the “deterioration conditions” of the Abbasi Shaheed hospital – the largest hospital managed by the central district government – and have required immediate release of salaries to medical staff.
Speaking at a press conference at Maison Pima on Saturday, officials of the Islamic Medical Association of Pakistan (PIMA) also criticized the recent statements made by the mayor of Karachi, calling them “irresponsible” and accusing him of exacerbating the situation. They also warned that the hospital, which is “on the support of the fan”, is pushed towards privatization.
The preseur was organized to protest against the non-payment of wages to household agents (HOS) and third cycle trainees (PG) at Abbasi Shaheed hospital, as well as to highlight the serious lack of installations in the hospital.
Dr. Zeeshan Hussain, secretary general of Pima Karachi, underlined the critical role played by the officers of the house and third cycle trainees in hospital operations. The staff of the Abbasi Shaheed hospital has not been paid for six months, he revealed. “While PGs in the Sindh government hospitals are paid RS104,000, the people of Abbasi Shaheed receive only 75,000 rupees. Likewise, government hospitals are paid RS69,000, while KMC Hos receives only 45,000 rupees,” said Dr. Hussain.
Professor Muttaqi deplored the long -standing negligence of the hospital, adding that the conditions have worsened in the past 15 years.
Since 2007, there have been no significant improvements. Fifty percent of the doctors have withdrawn, the canteen is closed, three out of four elevators are broken and only two surgeons remain in place against a sanctioned force of 18. The drugs are often invalid for poor patients, and there are growing efforts to privatize the hospital, “he said.
