The tug of war between Sindh health department and police department has badly affected the patient care at Sindh Police Hospital Karachi, it was learned on Wednesday. An administrative official of Sindh Police Hospital Karachi on condition of anonymity told PPI that the hospital administration had been facing acute shortage of specialist doctors, funds, medicines and diagnostic facilities to run the facility smoothly.
However, both the police department and provincial health department have miserably failed to increases the budget of this crucial police hospital and they are also reluctant to fill the vacant posts of consultant doctors' despite several requests sent by the hospital administration.
The official said the hospital urgently requires consultant doctors and blood bank in order to provide better health facilities to police officials and their families. He said that attendance of patients in the hospital has dropped due to the shortage of doctors and drugs. The hospital needs a general surgeon, gynecologist, orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist, pediatrician and other technicians to improve healthcare performance in this 50-beded police treatment facility. The operation theater of hospital has already been closed down, owing to the shortage of surgeons and skilled staff.
The home department spends millions of rupees every year on medical treatment of policemen from 'very costly' private hospitals of Karachi who get injured in the line of duty. Millions of rupees per month could be saved if specialist doctors are appointed to the police hospital. However, some vested interests are not in favour of improving healthcare and surgical facilities at the police hospital, as it would deprive them of hefty commission and kickbacks from the private facilities. This conflict of interest is the main reason why this crucially-important police hospital is ignored and millions of rupees paid to private hospitals to treat the injured and sick cops and their families.