Mayor Karachi insists ownership of KMC-run hospitals

KARACHI: Mayor Karachi, Waseem Akhtar urged the Sindh government to give ownership and grant to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation run hospitals, as it had given ownership to hospitals like Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and National Institute of Cardiovascular (NICVD) when these institutions came under Sindh government domain.

He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of Corneal Transplant Ward and restart of Phaco Emulsification Surgery at Spencer Eye Hospital Karachi.

The Corneal Transplant project was re-launched by Spencer Eye Hospital in collaboration with the Lions Club of Pakistan.

Waseem Akhtar stated that load shedding, choked sewerage system, and garbage heaps, have become the primary source behind the spread of vector diseases in the megacity and is thus increasing the patient burden on city hospitals.

He informed that 98% of the citizens could not afford the expenses of private hospitals. Therefore, funds have been allocated for the purchase of new medical equipment and medicines to improve the overall condition of KMC-run health facilities.

He directed the Senior Director, Medical & Health Services (M&HS) Department, KMC, Dr Birbal Genani, to constitute a committee of experts and get their feedback and ideas to instigate improvement in the 13 health facilities run by the KMC.

Mayor Karachi requested the philanthropists of Karachi to come forward to improve patient care in these KMC-run health facilities. He stated that the Spencer Eye Hospital not only provides treatment of eye diseases and conducts surgeries for the citizens of Karachi but patients from all over Pakistan as well as abroad.

Metropolitan Commissioner, Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, said that there is a dire need to revive the past glory of Spencer Eye Hospital by introducing postgraduate training in the oldest eye care hospital of Karachi. He further stated that the provision of education and health facilities is the responsibility of the State.

Lion Abubakar Kareem of the Lions Club of Pakistan said that the Lions Clubs works for the betterment of the community. He informed that the Lions Club had donated four eyes for corneal transplantation and surgeries would be performed soon.

Eminent social worker, Faisal Edhi stated that the Spencer Eye Hospital is the oldest eye care hospital in Karachi and a pioneer in introducing many advance care facilities to its citizens. He said this health facility needs the Sindh government’s attention in order to improve patient care.

Social Workers Faisal Edhi, Dr Niaz Barohi, Dr Birbal Genani, and others also spoke on occasion.