NICVD fails to reopen OPDs completely 

KARACHI: The routine out-patient departments of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi have remained closed despite the opening of the OPDs of other hospitals across the Sindh province.

The closure of the cardio OPDs is posing a major threat to the life of heart patients. Cardiac patients in Karachi are facing hardships as they are unable to get their routine checkups done from the NICVD for the past five months.

Presently, only 180 OPD tokens are being given to cardiac patients each day for routine checkups, while the majority of such patients are unable to get their routine checkups. Although emergency services are operational in this major cardiac institute, the routine OPDs have been closed since March 20 to stop the assembly of people so as to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The suspension of OPD services is creating a grave inconvenience for patients living with heart conditions as they are unable to get their routine checkups done. Cardiologists are also working under pressure as in the absence of physical examination of patients seeking consultation over the phone; a wrong diagnosis can land them in trouble.

A senior official at the NICVD noted that the OPD of the hospital would be made 80 per cent operational by the end of this month.

Chief Operating Officer, NICVD, Azra Maqsood, was not available for comments.

-MN Report