KARACHI: Because of shortage of anaesthesia doctors at the Sindh Government Hospital (SGH) New Karachi, the patients needing minor surgeries had to be shifted to Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and other public and private hospitals.
Hospital sources revealed that two anaesthesia doctor positions are vacant at the SGH, causing the closure of the hospital's operation theatres. As a result, patients requiring surgeries are being redirected to other facilities such as JPMC and CHK.
The shortage has led to significant inconvenience for patients, as the hospital, despite having three operational theatres, has not conducted any surgeries for months due to the absence of anaesthesia professionals.
In one case, a patient was referred to SGH Qatar Orangi Town and SGH Liaquatabad when a planned minor surgery was cancelled due to the lack of an anaesthesia doctor.
Residents from New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Surjani Town, and surrounding areas are now turning to other government hospitals for surgical services as the shortage continues.