Board to be set up - Governor voices concern over lack of facilities at ASH

By Our Staff Reporter

Karachi: Taking a serious notice of deteriorating health care facilities at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has suggested setting up of a board for ensuring its smooth running.

The proposed board comprising medical experts and philanthropists will ensure better healthcare facilities to patients at the hospital, he added.

The governor gave these directives during his surprise visit to the hospital. The Principal Secretary to Governor Muhammad Hussain Syed, Commissioner Karachi Syed Asif Hyder Shah and Metropolitan Commissioner Sami Siddiqui were present on the occasion.

He directed principal secretary, metropolitan commissioner and KMC’s senior director (Medical Services) to compile data about existing facilities and the resources required for improving the working of ASH.

Voicing concern over improper facilities at the hospital’s emergency and laboratory as well as non-provision of medicines to indoor patients, he directed the authorities to make sincere efforts in this regard.

The governor also directed the metropolitan commissioner to take immediate measures for ensuring cleanliness in wards and corridors of the hospital, besides the entire hospital, especially its corridors, must be covered with CCTV cameras.
He urged the officials to utilize cent per cent revenue collected under the head of hospital charges for meeting the hospital’s requirement, particularly of its Radiology department.

He also directed the officials to take immediate measures for providing meal to indoor patients.

Later, talking to media personnel, the Dr Ebad said that the purpose of his visit was to get firsthand information concerning the problems being faced by the hospital and its patients so that so that a viable strategy could be evolved to help resolve the problems.
Replying to a question, he said that he would also pay surprise visits to other health facilities of the city to get firsthand information about their problems.

Regarding ongoing Karachi operation, governor said that it was continuing as per the parameters of National Action Plan and tremendous results achieved in the wake of Karachi operation are visible to everyone. People of the entire country, specially the Karachiites are thankful to Rangers and other law-enforcement agencies for restoring peace and tranquility in the city and as a result of which economic, cultural, social and recreational activities were in full swing in the metropolis, he added.