Severe shortage of insulin and life-saving medicines hits CHK Civil Hospital Karachi
KARACHI: A severe shortage of insulin has gripped Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), the country’s largest public sector healthcare facility, causing distress among diabetic patients who rely on hospital pharmacies for treatment.
For several weeks, patients have made repeated visits in search of insulin, but the essential drug remains unavailable. Hospital pharmacy sources confirmed that not only insulin but multiple other life-saving medicines are also out of stock.
According to patients, the unavailability of medicines has placed the greatest burden on poor and underprivileged individuals who cannot afford to purchase costly insulin and other critical drugs from private pharmacies.
Registered thalassemia patients at CHK are also facing an acute shortage of medicines and injections. Families reported that for weeks, patients have not received the required medication from the hospital, deepening their concerns.
Basic drugs such as Glucophage, Augmentin, Lipgid, and Amaryl have also disappeared from pharmacy shelves, disrupting treatment plans for thousands of patients. Particularly alarming is the shortage of Albumin Injection, considered a life-saving medicine for thalassemia and several other serious conditions. Families said they are compelled to buy it at high prices in the open market, which is unaffordable for most.
Patients and their attendants have appealed to the Sindh government and the provincial health department to urgently intervene and ensure the supply of insulin, thalassemia medicines, and other essential drugs to safeguard lives.
Civil Hospital Karachi Medical Superintendent Khalid Bukhari stated that the hospital is prioritizing admitted patients in wards and emergencies to prevent disruption of critical care. However, hospital sources revealed that despite significant budget allocations, the persistent unavailability of medicines points towards administrative shortcomings.
Patients and their families continue to call for immediate government action to resolve the crisis and provide relief to vulnerable communities relying on CHK for essential treatment.
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