Surgeries Postponed at SMBB Trauma Centre

KARACHI-  Score of routine and emergency operations recently got postponed at Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Accident, Emergency and Trauma Centre,  as the employees observed complete strike for their post regularizations.

The emergency department of SMBB also remained suspended, owing to the protest demonstration of contract nurses, paramedical staff, ward boys, computer operators other support staff for their post regularizations and completion of salary dues. The operation theaters of Trauma Centre were also closed, causing grave inconvenience to the patients who were supposed to undergo surgeries, due to the absence of helping staff.

President, SMBB Trauma Centre Contract Employees Committee, Mr. Rabnawaz, stated that, about 800 to 900 employees were hired by Sindh Government on contract basis in 2016 and since then they are working on contract. He informed that, Sindh Government did regularize 76 doctors on their posts but, the nurses, technicians, ward boys, computer operators and other staff were not regularized.

Furthermore, he added that the employees have been compelled to stage protest at Karachi Press Club and boycott their duties due to authorities’ double standards.

Due to the protest, approximately 80 to 100 routine and emergency surgeries were postponed.

The protest demonstration of employees badly affected the patient care system at SMBB Trauma Centre.  The walk ins and admitted patients greatly suffered, as hospital’s emergency and other units remained disturbed.