Dearth of doctors, nurses affects LGH’s working

MN Report

Karaachi: Sindh government’s Lyari General Hospital (LGH) has been facing difficulties in managing the affairs of its gynaecology, ophthalmology, anaesthesia and paediatrics departments owing to shortage of female medical officers and skilled staff nurses.  

Moreover, the 500-bed LGH whose outpatient departments (OPDs) are visited by over 2,000 people daily for either consultation or treatment purpose, was also facing dearth of staff nurses.

An official of the LGH told Medical News that there are, at present, only 60 nurses for three shifts as against their actual sanctioned strength of 120. Similarly, there is an urgent need to fulfill the vacant posts of qualified lab technicians and cardiology technicians in the health facility’s Cardiology department, he added.  

“In fact, working of the hospital’s Gynaecology Department has been badly affected as only three medical officers are available for three shifts,” the official said, adding that 25 women medical officers and 60 nurses are immediately required for improving patients’ care in the hospital, located in the old city area.

Sindh Secretary Health Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo, when contacted, said health department will immediately appoint women medical officers provided it received a request from the health facility’s administration in this regard.

He asked the medical superintendents of public sector hospitals to submit details of shortage of staff so that arrangements could be made for filling vacant posts.