Force shifting of patients from CHK and trauma center on the rise

KARACHI: As per recent reports, the employees of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (SMBB) Institute of Trauma, Karachi and Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) have been found forcing patients to go to private hospitals for treatment for the sake of commission and personal benefits.

The shifting of patients to private-sector health facilities for the sake of commission has become common in the SMBB Institute of Trauma, Karachi, and CHK in the evening and night shifts, while the administration of these institutes has failed to contain this malpractice.

Recently a 32-year-old woman from the Shahbaz Town area of Quetta, Baluchistan, had reportedly been shifted to the SMBB Institute of Trauma, where she was forced to go to a private sector hospital situated near the PMA House Karachi for Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure and ventilator.

Some employees, security guards of the trauma centre, and a student leader are allegedly involved in these illegal activities during the night shift.

Although the ERCP procedure is performed in the CHK and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the woman, who was also the mother of one child, tested positive for COVID-19 and later passed away as the private facility refused to treat the patient due to COVID-19.

Similarly, children are being shifted to private hospitals from the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Civil Hospital Karachi for commission. The private staff of the Emergency Department is also supposedly involved in this malpractice.

Despite enough doctor strength at the SMBB Institute of Trauma and CHK, patients are being shifted to private facilities. The family members alleged that the staff's lack of care and insulating behavior had compelled them to shift their patients to private health facilities.

Chief Operating Officer (COO), SMBB Institute of Trauma, Karachi, Dr Sabir Memon, said strict action would be taken if someone is found to be involved in these activities. He added that the shifting of patients for the sake of personal benefits is unacceptable.

-MN Report