Patients in Karachi’s government hospitals face lack of free MRI and CT scan facilities
KARACHI: Patients visiting outpatient departments (OPDs) of government hospitals in Karachi are being deprived of free MRI and CT scan facilities, as most hospitals either charge diagnostic fees or refer patients to private laboratories.
According to official sources, free MRI and CT scan services are limited to in-house or emergency patients at select hospitals, including the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Services Hospital, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre, and Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).
Limited access and high patient load
At Civil Hospital Karachi, MRI and CT scan machines are available, but free services are reserved for admitted patients. CHK Medical Superintendent Dr. Khalid Bukhari explained that due to an overwhelming patient volume — nearly 5,000 to 7,000 OPD visitors daily — it is not feasible to extend free diagnostics to all patients.
At Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, MRI services remain unavailable, while CT scans are performed at a cost of Rs1,600 per patient. For contrast CT scans, patients must purchase contrast injections separately, costing between Rs5,000 and Rs6,500. Hospital officials noted that the fee structure has been approved by the relevant authorities and all funds collected are properly accounted for.
Machines out of order at Lyari Hospital
The Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital has had its MRI and CT scan machines non-functional for several years, leaving patients with no access to diagnostic services. Those requiring scans are routinely referred to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) or Civil Hospital Karachi. Repeated attempts to contact Lyari Hospital’s administration went unanswered.
NICVD and trauma centre services limited to admitted patients
At NICVD Karachi, as well as its branches in Tando Muhammad Khan and Sukkur, MRI and CT scan services are offered free of cost — but only for admitted patients. NICVD spokesperson Muhammad Nasir confirmed that no fees are charged for diagnostic, medication, or treatment services for in-patients.
Similarly, the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre provides MRI and CT scans exclusively for admitted and emergency cases, while the Sindh Government Services Hospital offers CT scans only for government employees.
Diagnostic costs continue to burden patients
At Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), both OPD and emergency patients are charged for MRI and CT scans. Fees range from Rs1,000 for a brain CT scan to Rs3,000 for contrast scans, while MRI charges vary between Rs1,500 and Rs2,500 depending on the examination type.
Hospital officials stated that a proposal has been sent to the Sindh Health Department to abolish these fees, and all collected funds are deposited in the government treasury.
Healthcare professionals and patient rights advocates have expressed serious concern over the lack of free diagnostic facilities, warning that the financial burden on poor patients continues to rise amid soaring healthcare costs.
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