Violence against healthcare professionals on the rise in hospitals 

KARACHI: Poor security arrangements at Sindh’s government-run hospitals have increased incidents of violence against healthcare professionals in major public sector hospitals of Karachi as the provincial government has failed miserably to improve security in hospitals.

The harassment and violence against doctors, paramedical staff, and nurses marked a significant rise due to inadequate security arrangements on hospital premises.

Around a dozen incidents of violence against healthcare workers have been reported in major public sector hospitals, but the provincial government and hospitals' management have failed to introduce a comprehensive mechanism to protect the lives of medical staff.

Recently, a resident doctor at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases was injured in a firing incident due to poor security arrangements during the night shift at the hospital. The hospital’s administration has not taken any step to protect healthcare professionals even after this incident took place.

Doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff across the Sindh province issued a warning for a complete strike across the province to address the firing incident that took place in the premises of one of the largest public cardiac care facilities of the country and the criminal silence of the concerned authorities.

Such incidents were also reported at the Jinnah Postgraduate Center and the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. Both incidents were reported during the night shift.

Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr Khadim Hussain Qureshi, said a police reporting camp had been established outside the Emergency Department and near the Control Room to prevent such incidents from happening in the hospital premises. He informed that around 20 police personnel perform duties in one shift round the clock.

He further informed that the patrolling of the Sindh Rangers has also increased around the hospital to protect the doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff during their duties.

-MN Report