The gap between patients’ load and facilities available at major public hospitals in Islamabad and its vicinity has been widening over the years
These hospitals are Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi
These infirmaries are continuously facing budget constraints
As a result, this is impeding the hiring of medics and paramedics to meet the needs of the growing number of patients
However, even for the ongoing financial year, the government has not increased the budgetary allocations for these health facilities
These infirmaries are facing multiple issues like shortage of doctors, nurses, other supporting staff, lack of medicines, long-deferred surgeries, and lack of beds
While the number of patients visiting the OPDs and those admitted there has been increasing, there has been no proportionate increase in the number of medics and paramedics
The imbalance caused by the lack of new recruitments has overburdened doctors and nurses
Facilities at these hospitals are overstretched due to the rising load of patients
Around 30,000 patients report daily at the emergency departments and over 6,000 visit the OPDs of these hospitals daily
Patients from other provinces too visit these health facilities
The hospitals’ yearly budget is Rs6 billion of which 60% goes to salaries, leaving a mere 40% for those needing medical care
This situation well gives an idea of the inadequacy of medical care
This is obviously compelling patients to go to private health facilities
The expensive treatment available at private hospitals is beyond the reach of people with limited means
Doctors serving at the three hospitals say that the twin cities need another major hospital to adequately deal with the growing number of patients
Recently the PM had announced that district hospitals would be shut down as patients don’t visit them
Reasons are clear enough
Conditions at the three hospitals show why patients are turning away from there
If things improve at government hospitals, there is no reason why they should remain deserted
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2022
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| Date: | 06-Jan-2022 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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