PHCA expresses concern over inadequate health facilities in government hospitals

KARACHI: Former Health Minister and President of the Private Hospitals and Clinics Association (PHCA),  Dr Syed Junaid Ali Shah, has suggested the suspension of all non-essential services and demanded the government to improve patient handling.

He urged the government to increase government hospitals' capacity, given the recent increase in coronavirus patients in Karachi. Alternatively, they asked the government to subsidize costly care for the public, so the increased volume may be accommodated in private health facilities.

He further stated that it is disappointing to see that the Executive Director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Seemin Jamali, is being treated at a private hospital. This demonstrates that government hospitals are of inadequate standards despite utilizing billions from the government’s budget.

Dr Shah proposed spaces like the JPMC be handed over to a private entity that may uplift its standard and provide quality healthcare at a much lower cost.

He further demanded that the government should provide proper protective equipment to all frontline workers. The government needs to play a pivotal role in accommodating the number of patients and providing quality healthcare across the board.

-MN Report