CHK faces acute shortage of employees

KARACHI: According to sources, more than 850 posts were currently lying vacant in the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). Sources confirmed that the shortage of staff had gravely affected the functioning of this provincial government-run healthcare facility.

CHK is Sindh’s largest tertiary care institution.  It had 3,000 sanctioned posts, out of which 850 were lying vacant, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, support staff, and administrative staff.The shortage of staff adversely affected the performance of CHK healthcare facility.

Sources at the CHK informed that around 90 posts of doctors, 150 posts of staff nurses, 150 posts of paramedical staff, five posts in grade-15, and approximately 100 posts of sweepers and others administrative seats, had been lying vacant in this teaching hospital since the past several years.

Source further added that about 250 posts of non-technical and support staff from grade-1 to grade-14 were lying vacant since several years in various sections including hospitality services, kitchen, transport, general store, laundry, workshop, electrical, mechanical, ward boy, wooden, security, ministerial staff, ancillary staff, telephone exchange, etc.

Sources said that the hospital’s administration urgently needed nurses, paramedics, and doctors. These people could provide urgent care to the patients. The number of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) had been increased in the hospital with time. The administration needed skilled staff nurses and paramedical staff to attend such patients.

Sources claimed that the number of patients increased from 7,000 to 8,000 in the OPDs. Approximately 900 to 1,000 patients were brought to the Accident & Emergency Department daily. Over 150 women visited the hospital's Gynecology units for deliveries, and 500 children attended the Pediatric OPD on average daily. Diagnostic tests were also being performed in the institution free of cost daily at their state-of-the-art laboratory.

The concerned authorities from the Sindh Health Department were not paying heed towards the shortage of staff in public sector hospitals. Sources added that the employees of Civil Hospital were performing their duties under extreme pressure. The extra burden of work lead them towards various behavioral issues.

Sources pointed out that the unavailability of health care staff and shortage of staff in major hospitals of Karachi, also doubled the patient turnout in this teaching hospital.

Dr Khadim Qureshi, Medical Superintendent, CHK said: “There are 47 units in the health facility and the number of patients is increasing day by day.” He informed that a summary of employees hired about one and half years ago still was not approved as yet from the Sindh Health Department.