Poor and low-income group patients visiting Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's hospitals, dispensaries and maternity homes would be the ultimate sufferers in the wake of around 300 per cent increase in the service charges of the Corporation's healthcare facilities. Service charges of KMC's various hospitals, dispensaries and maternity homes have been increased manifold through a notification.
Pakistan Medical Association's (PMA) General Secretary, Dr Miza Ali Azhar, when contacted by this correspondent to seek his comments over the KMC's act of increasing the services charges of its health facilities, he termed increase in the service charges `unjust' and `uncalled for', saying only poor and low-income group of people will suffer on account of KMC's decision. "As it is quite evident from the fact that poorest of the poor usually visit these facilities. As a matter of principle the government is responsible to provide health services to the poor segment of the society free of cost. But unfortunately with the exception of Civil Hospital Karachi and health delivery system managed by Social Security Institutions, all the services are being provided against heavy charges," he lamented.
He said the KMC's decision of revising service charges of its healthcare facilities from 250 to 300 per cent in some cases is not acceptable to PMA. "In fact, such a raise on the part of KMC is a cruel joke with poor patients, who approach the civic agency's health facilities after covering long distances," he opined. The PMA general secretary demanded of the authorities concerned to immediately withdraw the increase in the service charges, ensuring quality health service to all poor and needy patients without any discrimination, as enshrined in the country's Constitution. He said that at present poor patients due to shortage of medicines at KMC's hospitals are compelled to purchase expensive medicines from private medical stores.
According to sources, more than 250 healthcare facilities of KMC have been facing shortage of essential medicines. Patients visiting different health facilities, including Spencer's Eye Hospital, Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Gazdarabad Hospital, North Nazimabad's Children Hospital, Sobhraj Maternity Home, claimed that they are forced to purchase medicines from private medical stores.